Head of Prosecutions (2916)

Do you want to create a better world for animals? At the RSPCA, we believe all animals deserve kindness and respect. We work for the benefit of every animal – as well as pets, that includes farmed animals, wildlife, and animals used in science. Choose a career with us and make a difference for every kind.

We are looking for a new  Head of Prosecutions  working closely with the Chief Legal Counsel.

• Contract: 2 year fixed term contract with potential to become permanent  
• Working hours: 35 hours - Monday to Friday. 

• Hybrid role: You will work from home and also occasionally from  the London and Horsham offices. 

We are seeking a Head of Prosecutions who is more than just a lawyer.  We need a resilient leader, a strategic navigator and a steadfast advocate who can guide a team of highly experienced professionals through transition while upholding the highest standards in order to bring those who commit animal welfare crimes to justice.

We think this role's going to be popular and are expecting to attract high interest so we strongly encourage early applications to avoid missing out - closing date is the 26th of April.

As the Society's subject matter expert on Prosecutions, you will hold accountability for the tactical direction and resolution of our most complex challenges; you won't just lead a department; you will protect the RSPCA's reputation, influence government legislation, and working with others, ensure that our decisions to prosecute are robust, ethical, and transparent.

Key responsibilities include:

• Expert Counsel: You will provide articulate, confident advice to the Board, Trustees, and the Chief Legal Counsel on criminal law, evidence, and procedure.
• High-Stakes Management: You will oversee contentious or high-profile cases that attract significant media scrutiny and public interest.
• Leading Through Change: You will act as the primary representative for the Prosecutions team and will ensure stability and clarity during organisational shifts.
• Operational Excellence: As Head of Prosecutions, you will manage departmental budgets, maximising court cost recovery and ensuring quality assurance across all case conduct.
• Cross departmental working; you will represent your area of the business, whilst collaborating with other departments and working towards the bigger picture.

We believe in transparency; this is a demanding role that operates on the front line of animal welfare, so it will be challenging and at times you will be faced with very difficult situations and decisions.

You will frequently encounter graphic evidence of extreme animal cruelty. Repeated exposure is a reality of the role and personal resilience is essential.

The department is often the subject of intense media criticism and you must be able to remain calm, measured and strategic under sustained external pressure.

As Head of Prosecutions, you will manage a team facing hostile communications from aggrieved defendants and must lead with empathy while maintaining professional boundaries.

To succeed within this role, you must be a Qualified Lawyer with extensive post-qualification experience in criminal law. You are a seasoned practitioner who understands the Code for Crown Prosecutors and has a proven track record in Magistrates' and Youth Court procedures.

Beyond your legal credentials, you are:

• Able to make quick, effective judgments in high-pressure environments.
• Able to see the "big picture" and can align legal outcomes with the broader mission of the Society.
• Able to lead through change, as we modernise our processes and technology
• Capable of persuading and influencing at the highest levels of government, the police, and the CPS.

It is also essential that you have the emotional intelligence to lead a team through distressing casework and organisational change.

If this sounds like the ideal next step for you, we would love to receive your application!

Successful candidates for certain RSPCA roles will need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK - We are unable to sponsor visas at RSPCA

First stage interviews will be held on the 13th May, with the second stage interviews being held shortly afterwards.

We want to ensure we do all we can to give you a positive candidate experience through our recruitment. Whilst we do try to give feedback where we can, sometimes due to receiving high levels of applications, this may not always be possible

We are building the future of a diverse Society, and our priority is to support animal welfare by finding people from all backgrounds who are committed  to our mission.  For this reason we actively encourage a wide diversity of applications - in particular from members of minority ethnic groups, and people with disabilities - as these candidates are currently under-represented at the RSPCA. Your transferable skills & lived experiences could make you a valuable addition to our RSPCA Family! 

We're here to support you and encourage you to let us know if you need any adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please feel free to contact us at resourcingteam@rspca.org.uk or 0300 123 0685 so we can ensure the process works for you.