Head of Investigations - Start Up Consultancy Firm

Our client, a start-up consulting firm specialising in investigations, culture, sustainability, business intelligence, and advisory services, is growing! They are currently looking to hire a Head of Investigations.

The team works closely with an array of impressive clients, including law firms, corporates, and significant non-for-profit organisations, providing a full range of people intelligence services. One of the core pillars of service offered by the team is independent investigations into a wide range of areas such as conduct, compliance, cultural, and people issues.

This is a unique opportunity for the successful individual to join a dynamic business with an impressive growth trajectory.

Key role responsibilities:

• Lead and grow the investigations division
• Conduct business development activities and strategies meeting key metrics for the investigations department
• Innovate and lead the sharing of insights and best practices, positively representing the brand
• Build and protect client relationships, as well as the positive brand and expertise of the business
• Devise and deliver department plans and report routinely to stakeholders on key metrics, milestones, and KPIs
• Expand internal resources and increase the capabilities of investigators within the team
• Manage quality assurance with the review and sign-off of investigation reports
• Oversee investigation case allocations and investigators' performance
• Advise investigators when escalation or support is required to conduct investigations nationally and globally
• Lead investigations into potential misconduct, fraud, unethical behaviour, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and microaggressions, ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory requirements
• Prepare and review detailed investigation reports, including findings, recommendations, and preventive measures, and present them to senior management and key stakeholders of clients
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of workplace and societal norms and cultures, and how they inform or affect organisations, consumer and staff perceptions, and workplace experiences
• Be a trusted advisor and a member of senior leadership, providing expert insights, recommendations, and guidance on business integrity matters, risk mitigation, and ethical decision-making
• Uphold effective collaboration and communication with internal stakeholders and other necessary departments to identify issues and address business integrity concerns promptly and effectively
• Be a business champion in representing the business by sharing thought leadership and best practices at conferences and events

Successful individuals are likely to demonstrate:

• Extensive experience in building and managing investigation departments and teams
• A legal qualification or a post-graduate degree in a relevant field, though not a prerequisite
• Experience in leading business integrity initiatives, conducting complex investigations, and utilising data insights for risk mitigation
• Demonstrable examples and case studies of business development practices and commercial successes with building profitable investigation departments
• Prior experience in a similar role in a professional firm or multinational corporation
• An excellent understanding of business integrity principles, compliance frameworks, and global regulatory requirements, including privacy and employment law requirements relevant to investigations and disciplining employees
• Growth and innovative mindset, with a solution-focused approach to growth, scale, and general business logistics and obstacles
• Analytical, drafting, report and letter writing skills, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with a keen eye for detail
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively relay complex information to diverse audiences
• Professional certifications in investigations, data analysis, or related areas are desirable but not a prerequisite
• Ability to provide practical recommendations and solutions to clients
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Awareness of workplace culture, trends, and practices, as well as a keen passion and commitment to being a thought leader in investigations
• Good problem-solving skills, resilience, and logical thinking, with the ability to evaluate and simplify complex issues
• Ability to exercise good and independent judgment
• Emotionally intelligent, with well-balanced commercially strategic and empathetic leadership qualities
• Confidence and courage to hold a managerial role with the ability to raise potentially sensitive and tense issues when needed to all levels of management with gravitas and strategy to bridge solutions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate to all levels in the company and pivot in times of need and prioritise with speed.

Successful applicants are likely to be qualified employment lawyers with significant workplace investigations experience, senior investigations professionals, or HR professionals with a strong emphasis on ER, culture, and workplace investigations.

A hybrid working policy is in place, with individuals generally spending 2-3 days per week in London; however, this can fluctuate depending on client requirements.