The General Optical Council (GOC) is the statutory regulator for the optical profession in the UK. Our purpose is to protect the public by promotinghigh standards of education, performance and conduct amongst opticians and maintaining public confidence in the profession. We are on a journey to be a world class regulator and are looking for a Head of Hearings Operations to support that aim.This is a high-profile role which combines leading and managing the GOC's hearings and scheduling teams as part of our fitness to practise function, ensuring that hearings are scheduled, resourced, run, and reported on efficiently and in accordance with legislation and the FtP (Fitness to Practise) Rules.Central to the role will be the post-holder's ability to lead a high-performing and busy team, working collaboratively and at pace with internal stakeholders including FtP Committee Chairs and members ensuring they are kept engaged and consulted in our growth activities.Alongside leading the day-to-day operational function, the successful candidate will be responsible for the development and delivery of several improvement and efficiency projects. These projects form part of our overarching FtP improvement programme 22-25 which seek to improve pace and efficiency within our process and ensure we meet our overarching commitment to reduce the time it takes to resolve FtP concerns.Key Accountabilities:

• Create and maintain a dynamic, supportive, and positive team working environment, identifying, and addressing training needs and skills development
• Set and review appropriate performance objectives and standards for the department, closely monitoring achievement against them, ensuring that all staff and services deliver the GOC's corporate priorities and core mission.
• Strategic and operational responsibility for the delivery of a high quality and effective hearings management process - enabling a customer-centric delivery which maximises use of available resources to ensure that cases are determined within KPIs (Key performance Indicators)
• Budgetary and financial accounting responsibility for hearings (£1.23m) ensuring value for money and a continuous focus on financial and operational efficiencies, ensuring the timely production of high quality, accurate and meaningful financial and management information, in accordance with corporate frameworks and requirements, to support effective and evidence-based decision-making and planning.
• Identification and management of operational and strategic risks that could affect our overarching public protection remit.
• Responsible for the induction, training and performance management of high-calibre committee chairs and members to service the Fitness to Practise Committee and Registration Appeals Committee (c.70 members).
• Responsible for the provision of other support services for hearings, including legal advisers (c.30), clinical advisers (c.8) and transcription services, ensuring efficient and high-quality service agreements - taking appropriate action when standards are not met.
• Maintaining a high level of knowledge on the broader regulatory framework and providing up-to-date expertise and advice to the Senior Management Team and Council on all hearings related issues.
• As part of the GOC leadership team, contribute to the development of FtP policy and strategy, contributing to a cycle of continuous improvement to drive forward both financial and operational efficiencies including the design, development, implementation, and monitoring of processes, standards, and operating procedures to support the work of the department.
• Keeping up to date on all aspects of the processes, procedures and work of the GOC and have regard for the relevant legislation relevant to the Fitness to Practise department responsibilities and the broader GOC functions

Essential skills/Experience/Qualifications

• Experience of working within a legislative or regulatory framework
• Sound leadership experience including the setting of strategic and operational objectives, staff management, performance improvement, and project and change management.
• Highly developed budget awareness and ability to ensure activities are cost effective and represent excellent value for money.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering high-quality customer service and proactive involvement in improving procedures.
• Ability to apply and interpret procedures, policy, and law as it relates to the GOC's adjudication function;
• Strong relationship builder and effective communicator at all levels
• Project management experience is desirable but not essential
• Awareness of how own behaviours impact on others
• Engender trust in others through inclusive practice

Please note your application will not be accepted without a covering letter exampling how you meet the essential criteria, no more than 2 A4 pages.Closing date is 28 September 2022, we reserve the right to close this role early dependent on number of applications.Ref: 136 426