Director Of Forensic Services

Director of Forensic Services

This role will attract a salary in the range of £120,000 to £150,000 depending on the strength of job-related skills and knowledge

We are seeking a Director of Forensic Services to join our senior leadership team. Policing London is a privilege and serving the diverse communities who call London home is at the heart of this privilege. Come join a team who protect a city that can rival any in the world for its history, vibrancy, diversity and culture.

Sir Robert Peel founded the Met in 1829 on the basis of policing by consent. That holds as true today and underpins our vision to rebuild policing by consent. This is a role where you have a once in a generation opportunity to be at the forefront of delivering the reform the Met has promised to London.

We have made progress in delivering more trust, less crime and high standards. We know there is more to do.

The role

As the Director of Forensic Services you will lead a team of more than 1300 specialists and provide critical service to London and specialist advice and services nationally. You will make a critical contribution to the investigation of crime and the administration of justice by leading a highly operational service, from frontline staff who manage and examine crime scenes through to forensic experts who give critical impartial evidence of opinion to the courts under their duty as set out in Criminal Procedure Rules.

You will shape and oversee the delivery of Met Forensic Services to ensure maximum impact and alignment with the strategic direction and priorities as described in A New Met for London.

You'll specifically deliver on operational A New Met for London priorities:

• increase our intervention.
• contribution and speed in support of public protection investigations.
• deliver proactive and enhanced services to reduce harm caused by target offenders.
• maintain and improve critical services to homicide and counter-terrorism investigations.
• increase our contribution to acquisitive crime investigations where this leads to positive outcomes.
• maintain the high quality and reliability of our activities and our findings.

You'll ensure that forensics are at the heart of how we reduce and prevent crime; how we build trust amongst Londoners and supporting our officers use their powers precisely based on data and technology. Innovation and bringing outside thinking in will help make even further progress against our priorities of community crime fighting; culture change and fixing our own foundations. 

Use your skills to protect Londoners, keep the capital safe and set the people of the Met up to succeed for London.

Who we are looking for

Professional qualifications

• degree-level qualification or equivalent experience.

Knowledge

awareness of:

• Forensic Services
• science
• criminal justice
• medical

Skills

• a strategic thinker who can demonstrate the ability to translate that strategic thinking into leadership that inspires people to consistently deliver their very best.
• ability to understand complex scientific and technical applications and development through a strong academic or proven operational background, with a robust track record of delivery of excellence at a senior level within an academic, science, criminal justice or medical field. ideally experienced as a forensic practitioner and expert witness with demonstrable integrity and impartiality.
• understanding of the science and technology that underpins Forensic Services delivery, the inherent risks and its contribution to crime investigation and achieving justice.
• ability to demonstrate flair and experience in innovation and in the implementation of strategic change programmes. demonstrable credibility to communicate with and influence senior leaders in the police service, Whitehall and Government.
• ability to motivate and inspire more than 1300 forensic staff and lead transformational change both in the wider Met and within Forensic Services.

Experience

• an experienced leader with a proven track record at very senior levels within the public or private sectors based on a broad knowledge of the strategic application of science and technology in crime investigation and its contribution to the administration of justice.
• a strong and demonstrable track record of introducing new processes, management systems, successfully challenging attitudes, mind-sets and culture and of implementing new technology.
• experience of dealing with elected representatives and public bodies up to and including Ministerial level.
• experience at senior leadership level in building leadership teams and motivating people to deliver improved operational performance and contribution.
• experience of working with national and international agencies in a similar science, medical, criminal justice or forensic arena and of developing an effective network at senior level within the science, medical, forensic communities or police service.
• proven track record in strategic thinking translated into an inspiring vision for those delivering services, and of managing and leading large, complex operational services with a high public profile and impact.

How to apply

If you are interested in finding out more about this role please visit our website via the button below.

To apply for this post, you will need to submit the following documentation:

• Your current CV.
• A personal statement of no more than two pages. This must set out a summary of your evidence of experience and your suitability for and interest in the role.
• A completed additional information form.
• A completed diversity monitoring form. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not affect your application in any way.

Completed applications must be submitted by 11.55pm, 14 May 2024.

The Met is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from ethnic minority groups and females.

As a Disability Confident employer, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of our everyday practice. We ensure that people with disabilities and those with long term health conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

If you consider yourself to have access, workplace or reasonable adjustment requirements that need to be accommodated, we ask that you include this information within your application form. All matters will be treated in strict confidence and will not affect any recruitment decisions.