Head of Department - HQ & Ops Support
Job Title: Head of Department - HQ & Ops Support
Salary: The starting salary is £80,260, which includes allowances totalling £2,928.
The salary is broken down as £77,332 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £89,320 Plus, a location allowance of £1,928 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.
Location: Bow, Hendon, Lambeth
Role Profile:
The HQ Lead provides the foundations that underpin the effective management of Met Command & Control. This is a pivotal role within the OCU, and the post holder is responsible for delivering the essential day-to-day business functions and services that enable the successful running of the operational teams.
The Head of HQ is responsible for many of the enable and support functions that provide the backbone for MetCC and deliver the infrastructure that supports the delivery of services across the command.
These key functions include:
- Overseeing the £135m operating budget, owning the relationship with Finance Business Partners, to provide scrutiny and regular monthly reports, thereby ensuring the OCU is operating within budget and is financially assured.
- Through the Head of Training and Recruitment lead on all MO12 training and recruitment matters; delivering an effective Resource Management Office capability that supports all OCU functions.
- Leading the OCU’s pl processes ensuring the right resources are in the right place and thereby owning, maintaining and controlling the OCU BWT, ensuring the right posts are available for the effective operation of the command.
- Responsible for all attendance management matters
- As the OCU’s Appropriate Authority you are responsible for all professional standards matters.
- Chair dismissal and conduct hearings for police staff.
- Chair and adjudicate Flexible Working appeals panel.
- Oversee and manage the OCU Project Management Office which manages all areas of internal and external change across the OCU
- Through the Project Management Office and Business Change Team own significant OCU wide change projects i.e. Rebalance, HQ formalisation and Realignment.
- Represent the OCU Commander at MO Performance Board chaired by the Deputy Assistant Commissioner.
- Decision maker for all OCU pay extension requests
- Responsible for OCU wide Comms and Engagement
- Lead the MetCC Community Forum
- On behalf of the OCU Commander lead on all H&S matters
- Lead on all Reward and Recognition matters
Key Responsibilities:
Success in this role demands a strong strategic and analytical orientation coupled with exceptional communication skills and a highly developed collaborative nature. The post holder will interact with all members of the Directorate SLT and wider Met Operations Leadership and will be required to produce key papers and written reports in areas such as budget, risk and deep dive performance reviews.
The HQ Governance Lead has:
- Direct financial accountability of £135m budget for the directorate
- Direct line management of 1 x Chief Inspector and 3 x Band B police staff overseeing 6 internal departments including Resource planning, Business Change, Secretariat, Training, Professionalism and Comms & Engagement.
Indirect but high impact on the Met’s Performance through the governance and delivery of the MPS People Strategy
Scope for Impact:
- This role is fundamental to establishing the governance framework for delivering key MO12 outputs, including the annual HR plan and MPS People Strategy.
- Leading on procurement activity (outside of the established outsourced contracts) encompassing all requests for ad-hoc consultancy support and senior advisory roles.
- Has the “eyes-on” role for ensuring the effective management of MO12’s devolved budget and ensuring that MO12 is properly staffed within the constraints of its annual workforce budget.
- Ensures key insight is given to MO COG on a regular basis in relation to key budget and performance information.
- This role is also a key enabler for the redirection of MO12 resources to meet key and emerging priorities.
- Is responsible for tracking risk across the MO12 and understanding the impact on the MPS People Strategy and Net Met for London.
- Oversight and reporting of the MO12 budget.
How to apply
To begin your career at the Met, please click the "apply now" button below. The application process requires a comprehensive CV, a Personal Statement, and an online application form. In your Personal Statement, you should explain your interest in the position and illustrate how your skills and experiences make you a suitable candidate. Please note that you should not submit two copies of your CV, and ensure that your documents are saved in either PDF or Word format, clearly labelled as CV and/or Personal Statement.
Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 18th July 2025.
Once received, your application will be reviewed against eligibility criteria, following this, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager. The application review for this vacancy will commence 1 week after the vacancy has closed.
Following application review, successful candidates will be invited to interview. Interview dates will commence two weeks after the hiring managers review.