This is a specialist role, requiring significant leadership experience in forensic science operational delivery. It requires an understanding of scientific and quality requirements, commercial strategies and operational oversight of service delivery.
The successful candidate will work in partnership with the NPCC and the wider forensics community on behalf of the Home Office to bring together existing activity in areas of highest risk over the next two years. This includes providing clarity for the commercial market, increasing productivity/efficiency, addressing risks to niche disciplines, improving data & performance, and setting the direction towards standardisation to improve consistency and outcomes for all police forensic services.
The Director of Forensic Services needs to have a strong background in, and understanding of, the role of forensics in the criminal justice system, and of Policing in England and Wales. This would include:
* Substantial experience operating at a senior leadership level within forensic science, ideally in a law enforcement context.
* Substantial experience of delivering forensic services including a good understanding of the regulatory environment within which forensic science operates.
* A good understanding of the commercial practices and approaches of police forces in procuring forensic science.
* A good understanding of Change Management.
Key responsibilities include:
The Job Holder will be expected to:
* Work with Home Office policy leads, and forensic capabilities e.g. FINDS, the National Police Chiefs Council, Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, Blue Light Commercial, the Forensic Capability Network, the Forensic Science Regulator, and commercial partners as well as others in the wider forensic community to
o co-create and implement a longer-term market strategy for both physical and digital forensic services.
o shape a new operating model for Digital Forensics incorporating the HMICFRS recommendations, ensuring that recommendations fit within the wider police reform programme and to support developments in the operating model for other forensic provision.
o advise the Home Secretary, Ministers and Home Office Senior Officials on the risks to forensic science delivery in police forces in England and Wales, focussing on immediate risks.
o steer the transition of police forensic services to a national body such as the National Centre for Policing, including both physical and digital forensics.
* Provide leadership for the forensic community in England and Wales during the process of police reform.
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