Head of Operational Policy, Assurance and Compliance

We are recruiting a Head of Operational Policy, Assurance and Compliance to be part of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). You will lead on the development and improvement of our operational policies and processes from both thematic and system wide analysis. You will also input to a programme of continuous learning.

You will play a key role in assuring that the crucial work being carried out in the Investigations and Findings teams is carried out to the required standards, meets the public and internal facing policy and process requirements and is in accordance with the values, mission and vision of the Commission. This will include the identification of individual compliance issues in casework.

In doing this you will be supported by a small, focused team who will be able to carry out audit and inspection of all operational aspects of the Commission’s investigations processes through the Support, Information Recovery and Findings stages. Further to the commitment of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to introduce primary legislation to strengthen the Commission’s powers, this role will lead on enabling the Commission to respond effectively to these forthcoming legislative proposals through the development, testing and implementation of new operational policies and programmes.

Reporting to the General Counsel, you will work in close collaboration with the Chief Commissioner, the Head of Findings, the Commissioner for Investigations and his Assistant Commissioners, and the Director of Strategic Communications.

Key Responsibilities

• Strong and effective relationship building across functions, directorate boundaries and with operational teams.
• Leading on the creation and implementation of operational policies to achieve the organisation’s aims and meet the needs of the Requesting Individuals and promoting reconciliation.
• Assuring that Case Support and Information Recovery and Findings teams adhere to the Commission’s promulgated policies, reporting individual areas of non-compliance to the Executive Leadership for immediate rectification.
• Identifying in a timely way thematic and systemic compliance and adherence issues and inputting to the analysis of cause and rectification, including culture, training, and policy improvement.
• Working closely with the External Advisory Group so that their advice and challenge to system wide policies is complementary to the work of the team, including through liaising directly with the EAG Chair and helping to shape their agendas.
• Where requested, providing prompt and specific assurance to the Commission in respect of individual cases where concerns or questions arise which benefit from assessment by someone who has not been involved in primary case handling and decision making.
• Sharing analysis with the Executive Leadership on identifying operational risk, suggesting improvements, advising and informing the Directorate and its corporate risk registers.
• Working with the Human Resources team to input to operational learning and development requirements.
• Lead on the development of the Commission’s response to forthcoming legislative proposals including the development of supporting internal policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Highly developed sense of the work of ICRIR, its aims and objectives and an understanding of the wider context of the organisation’s work, both currently and in the future.
• Experience of leading teams working with legal and operational colleagues to deliver successful outcomes.
• A strong background in and experience of operational policy development, particularly in a law-enforcement, inquiry or criminal justice context.
• Credibility and experience to provide advice to the most senior members of the Commission, including on sensitive matters.
• Ability to lead and build teams to deliver against a clear set of objectives.
• A collaborative and problem-solving approach, and the ability to lead teams to adopt the same.
• The ability to combine excellent attention to detail with the strategic overview.
• Commitment to playing an active role in the Commission’s senior leadership team.
• Demonstrate the values set out in the ICRIR Code of Conduct.
• SC clearance and a willingness to be assessed against the requirements for DV clearance, if not already cleared.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of developing assurance processes and encouraging the development of a culture in which compliance and assurance are prioritised.

We are happy to discuss the role and answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact us for an informal conversation about the role and our organisation. We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring and do not discriminate based on culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor.

Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. Please also provide a statement of suitability (max 1200 words) setting out your key skills and experience against the essential criteria listed in the person specification by no later than 5pm, Friday 6th June 2025 to recruitment@icrir.independent-inquiry.uk. Where appropriate, please indicate your location preference for the role – either Belfast or London.