The job holder is Director of Operations and responsible for all operational matters to ensure the successful delivery of the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry. Reporting to the Chief Executive (CEO)/Secretary, you will work with the Chair (Lord Brailsford), Director of Policy & Engagement and the Solicitor to the Inquiry as part of the Senior Leadership Team. As one of two Deputy Secretaries, you will need to step up and cover for the CEO in their absence.

All matters that provide the financial, human, physical and technology infrastructure of the Inquiry, including:

• Support staff and witnesses in the collation, analysis and presentation of evidence;
• Ensure hearings and other public facing events run smoothly and resiliently; and
• Maintain the integrity and delivery of the programme of work to conclude the Inquiry within the timescales outlined by the Chair and CEO.

Your responsibilities are delegated across three large and diverse C2-led teams, with a mix of civil servants and agency staff:

• Document and Evidence Management;
• Hearings and Witness Management; and
• Shared Services and Programme Management.

Your Personal Responsibilities Include

• managing three C2 members of staff and be countersigning officer for their respective diverse teams. You will deliver through others and provide effective and visible leadership that supports the values of the Inquiry and the wellbeing of staff.
• maintaining the ongoing relationship with the Sponsor Division in the Scottish Government, ensuring that the principles of the Management Agreement are maintained at all times, while safeguarding the independence of the Inquiry. You will have delegated financial authority and ensure that procurement, contracts and spend represent value for money for the taxpayer.
• taking overall direction from the CEO to establish adequate resourcing (financial, human, physical and technological) of the Inquiry, and monitor and maintain the effective and efficient use of those resources. You will provide regular critical appraisal to the CEO.
• overseeing the governance and assurance arrangements of the Inquiry, including risk management. You will provide the necessary evidence and strategic management information to support the CEO in their role. When required you will take responsibility for any proactive corrective action or improvement steps to maintain the integrity of governance arrangements.
• embedding effective record keeping, document and evidence management within the Inquiry. This will involve the management of contracts that support the receipt and review of thousands of documents to the Inquiry. You will need to support the leadership of a large and diverse document and evidence management team. You will also oversee the effective closure of the Inquiry, in a controlled manner, ensuring that we are compliant with the Inquiries Act, including the transfer of final records to the National Records of Scotland office.
• ensuring the successful operational delivery of hearings including the provision of the hearings space and technology, providing services to support the Chair, CEO, Counsel, Legal Teams, Core Participants, Witnesses and the wider public. In considering this delivery you will ensure sufficient mitigations to enable hearings to proceed both in-person and virtually. You will need strong awareness of managing reputational risk, given the high degree of public scrutiny and media interest in the Inquiry.
• deputising for the CEO, in their role as head of Secretariat (“Secretary”) to the Inquiry.

Resource leadership

• Responsible for the accurate setting, monitoring and control of resources across the Inquiry. You will have played a key role in your Directorate in establishing a collaborative and collegiate approach to planning and resource management.
• You will have a strong grasp of the overarching governance principles of finance, procurement, HR, property and technology, and have a successful record of managing strategically across these disciplines. You will be experienced at tracking strategic risks and suggesting mitigating actions.

Programme Management

• Leading the planning and delivery of multiple projects that underpin business functions, ensuring that lessons are learned quickly, and corrective action taken.

Leading collectively

• Taking an effective whole system approach to complex, dynamic issues; actively developing wide networks internally and externally, breaking down and collaborating across barriers to deliver outcomes;
• Being a visible corporate leader, influencing and supporting corporate activities and goals as a member of a senior team.

Developing Others

• Embedding an inclusive, learning culture in your teams, trusting and empowering others and enabling high performance and innovation;
• Ability to actively manage wellbeing and create an environment where diversity of thinking and perspective is both valued and nurtured.

Leading Others

• Setting clear strategic direction and making high quality decisions which balance risk and stakeholder interests to deliver outcomes;
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build visibility and awareness with partners and stakeholders.

Understanding and developing self

• You will demonstrate a strong understanding of yourself as a leader as well as a passion for your work and your own continuous personal development. This includes acting as a role model for inclusive leadership by clearly articulating, with courage and humility, how your personal life experiences and background impact on your thinking and behaviour.