The job of the Director

Scales To support the BSB as an independent effective regulator of barristers by leading and managing the work of staff in delivering the Board’s decisions; by providing advice to the Board on strategy, policy and operations; by liaising and co-ordinating work with the Approved Regulator (the Bar Council); and by representing the Board to outside organisations.

Team: 56

Reports to: Chairman, Baroness Deech, D.B.E

Key responsibilities include:

Management

To lead the BSB staff team to ensure that the BSB’s work is delivered effectively and efficiently and in accordance with the BSB’s Business Plan and Strategy.
To lead and manage the senior management team, conducting annual appraisals and arranging for the provision of identified training needs.
To ensure the BSB has sufficient human resources to achieve the defined objectives.
To continue to develop the skills and methods of operation necessary to make the BSB a first class professional regulator.
To provide strategic, policy and technical advice to the BSB on issues affecting its work and the delivery of its initiatives.
To ensure IT platforms are adequate to ensure effective discharge of BSB functions.

Budget

To be accountable for the BSB’s expenditure and run the Board’s work within the budget, to develop and present the annual Business Plan and budget bid and attend meetings of the Bar Council’s Finance and Audit Committee.
To develop a three year rolling corporate plan with associated budget to ensure delivery.

Governance

To liaise with the Bar Council to ensure that the BSB’s work is properly supported; to ensure that there is consistency of approach to staffing and other issues and to attend the Bar Council’s General Management Committee and meetings of the Bar Council.
To take decisions on applications from students seeking special permission to commence the Bar Professional Training Course, as provided by the Consolidated Regulations of the four Inns of Court and the Bar Council, which may be delegated.
To oversee the fulfilment of all equality and diversity duties.

External relations

To represent the BSB to outside stakeholders, including the Legal Services Board (LSB), the four Inns of Court (attending meetings of the Council of the Inns of Court and of the Inns’ senior executives), Government, the Legal Services Board and other legal professional bodies and consumer organisations.
To liaise and engage with the LSB and other legal profession regulators on relevant aspects of regulatory work.

Location

The BSB is located alongside the offices of the Bar Council at 289-293 High Holborn in London.

Travel

Some travelling around England and Wales will be required. Many Board meetings and a substantial number of other meetings take place after 5 pm. The Bar Council meets on a Saturday approximately seven times per year.