Coroner's Inquest and Investigations Manager

The starting salary for this position is 47,142 per annum based on a 36-hour working week.

Are you interested in managing a team of Coroner's Officers to support the Senior Coroner deliver their judicial responsibilities?

Surrey County Council provides the administrative support to the Senior Coroner in the operation of the Coroner's Court and importantly, supporting bereaved families. We are recruiting for an outstanding individual to manage a team of Coroner's Officers covering the county of Surrey; working with bereaved families, the Police, Hospital Trusts and Funeral Directors.

Please note - this role requires the post-holder to be part of an on-call rota which will attract an on-call allowance of 1,800 per annum. We otherwise operate a hybrid system of working, with an expectation of a minimum of 2 days per week working from the Coroner's Court in Woking.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About the Role

You will be responsible for oversight of the effective management of the referrals, investigations and inquest cases to be progressed, ensuring the team of Senior Coroner's Officers and Coroner's Officers are supported and enabled to deliver a high-quality service to bereaved families and the coroner.

You will ensure full compliance with the statutory duties that underpin referrals, investigations and the support of inquests into unexplained deaths. In this role you will embed a strong performance culture that places the dignity of the deceased at its heart and delivers a sensitive, compassionate and empathetic service to bereaved families.

You will also maintain close and constructive relationships with the Senior Coroner, Area Coroner and Assistant Coroners, all of whom are independent judicial office holders, ensuring their instructions are appropriately followed and that they are fully supported to fulfil their judicial responsibilities.

Shortlisting Criteria

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

• Experience of working within a coronial service as a Coroner's Officer, the police, legal profession or other investigatory profession.
• Experience of managing a team.
• Ability to build quality working relationships with key partners to ensure SLAs are met
• Confident and empathetic in working with partners and other key stakeholders, including the public
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate complex issues to a wide range of audiences

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 3 questions:

1. Please describe your experience of working within a coronial service, police, legal or other investigatory setting. How has this experience prepared you to oversee referrals, investigations and inquest cases while ensuring statutory compliance?
2. Tell us about your experience of managing and supporting a team in a complex or sensitive operational environment, including how you have embedded a strong performance culture that balances quality, accountability and compassion.
3. Please provide an example of how you have built and maintained effective working relationships with senior partners or stakeholders, including the public, and explain how you communicated complex or sensitive issues clearly and empathetically to ensure expectations and service standards were met.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 12/04/2026 with interviews dates to be confirmed.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.