About the Inquiry
In December 2021 Baroness Heather Hallett, a retired Appeal Court judge, was appointed by the Prime Minister as Chair of the independent public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic.
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was formally established with full powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 in June 2022. The Inquiry sits independently of the Government with the Cabinet Office acting as the sponsoring department.
Following an initial set up phase the Inquiry began hearing evidence in May 2023. We are now looking for an energetic and collaborative senior leader to join the excellent team that is delivering the Inquiry.
This is an exciting role, offering the opportunity to lead an innovative team, in fast moving circumstances, to ensure lessons are learned from the UK response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Further information about the Inquiry can be found on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry website.
Conflicts of Interest
Please note that candidates invited to interview will be invited to declare any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interests which could affect the independence of the Inquiry, in confidence, to the senior conflicts of interest recruiting manager. This may include current or prior work undertaken on the COVID-19 pandemic response. Decisions on any potential conflict of interest will be made before an appointment to the role is confirmed.
The team
The Legal Operations Team sits within the Policy, Research, Analysis and Legal Operations Directorate (PRAL), and supports the Solicitor and Counsel to the Inquiry, and their teams, to deliver their work and fulfil the Inquiry’s terms of reference.
The role
Working to the SEO Legal Operations Managers, the Legal Operations Leads primarily provide support to the Legal Budget Lines. This could include; invoice processing and tracking, working with the Inquiry Legal team to determine spend, drafting correspondence, supporting the SEO on forecasting, and liaising with the Inquiry’s central finance team and Cabinet Office finance to troubleshoot issues.
There are two roles available;
The Legal Finance Lead’s responsibilities include but are not limited to -
* Line management of up to 2 EOs, and supporting them to process all invoices across the Legal Budget line.
* Supporting the SEO Legal Operations Legal Finance Manager in forecasting the budget lines, including working on accruals and end of financial year processes.
* Working closely with the Inquiry’s central finance team to troubleshoot issues and support financial reporting
* Work flexibly across the Legal Operations team to assist where necessary.
* The post-holder may be required to perform other ad hoc duties consistent with the role and grading, where necessary.
The s.40 Lead’s responsibilities include but are not limited to;
* Providing administrative support and advice on the Inquiry’s s.40 budget line, including invoice processing, liaising with s.40 funded firms, working with the s.40 lead solicitor for each module to determine spend
* Supporting the SEO Legal Operations Service Manager in forecasting the budget lines, including working on accruals and end of financial year processes.
* Working closely with the Inquiry’s central finance team to troubleshoot issues and support financial reporting
* Work flexibly across the Legal Operations team to assist where necessary.
* The post-holder may be required to perform other ad hoc duties consistent with the role and grading, where necessary.