Coroner Service ManagerCouncil

Grade: N

Weekend Working: Some out of hours working to support the judicial process

The Service
The Coroners Service covers the jurisdiction of North Yorkshire and York. Support to HM Senior Coroner is provided by North Yorkshire Police who carry out investigative work and by North Yorkshire Council who provide administrative and facilities support.

The North Yorkshire and York Coroner area includes an area of 3194 square miles with a current population of around 834,000. In North Yorkshire, 23.7% of the population are 65 years of age or over and in York this demographic is 19.1%.

The population centres are York, Harrogate and Scarborough with several market towns within North Yorkshire. Both the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Park lie within the area, and the City of York has two vibrant universities. A large military garrison is based at Catterick in North Yorkshire.

The number of deaths registered annually is 7296 in North Yorkshire (2023) and 1953 in York (2023). 2069 cases were referred to the Senior Coroner in 2024, of which 1042 resulted in a standard postmortem examination and 42 resulted in a forensic postmortem.

Postmortem examinations are conducted at Harrogate Hospital, York Hospital and James Cook University Hospital (Middlesbrough). Postmortem CT scanning is not currently available at those hospitals and PMCT scanning is carried out via collaboration with trusts in Newcastle and South Yorkshire. For paediatric and neuropathology cases, arrangements are in place in Leeds, Sheffield and Lancashire.

North Yorkshire and York work primarily with 4 Medical examiner services in York and Scarborough Trust, Harrogate Trust, Bradford Trust and South Tees Trust. In addition, they work in close collaboration with Coroner’s services in West Yorkshire, East Riding and Hull, Teesside and Lancashire to ensure the smooth transfer of cases from their major trauma hospitals.

In 2024, 529 Inquests were opened, and 560 Inquests were concluded. 105 treasure finds were reported with 27 treasure inquest being concluded in 2024.

Role Summary
As Coroners Service Manager, you will lead a dedicated support team ensuring coronial inquests are managed professionally and efficiently. You will play a key role in maintaining high standards of case management and ensuring the service is equipped to meet current and future demands.

Reporting to the Head of Registration, Coroner and Bereavement Services and working closely the Senior and Area Coroner and a wide range of stakeholders and partners, you will ensure that statutory duties are delivered efficiently, sensitively and in accordance with legislation and national guidance.
• This is a varied and rewarding role, combining operational management, service development, workforce leadership and strategic planning. Main Duties Lead and manage the operational delivery of the Coroners Service within North Yorkshire Council, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, guidance and council policies.
• Manage, motivate and develop a team committed to excellent customer care and professional standards.
• Oversee the allocation, progression and quality assurance of coronial inquest casework, including complex, sensitive and high-profile cases.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners including public health, police, legal practices, medical examiners, pathologists and funeral directors.
• Support strategic planning, budget management, emergency preparedness, performance monitoring and the ongoing development of policies, procedures and service standards.

About You
• You have extensive experience of leading and managing a team within a sensitive and high-pressure statutory environment, with a track record of delivering high-quality outcomes.
• You possess strong knowledge of coronial legislation and associated regulations and an applied understanding of investigative and inquest processes, post-mortems, and statutory death reporting requirements.
• You are an effective communicator and skilled at building productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and partners.
• You have excellent organisational, analytical and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and drive continuous improvement.
• You are resilient and compassionate, with the sound professional judgement and integrity required to lead within a high-profile, customer focussed environment.

For more information or an informal discussion please contact Adrian Clarke, Head of Registration, Coroner and Bereavement Services ([email protected] or 01609 535943)

Key Dates:
Closing date: 22nd November 2026
Interview date: Friday 4th December 2026
Venue for interview: Northallerton

Key Documents:
Job Description
Total Rewards Brochure

Using AI? Please follow our guidance to ensure your application reflects your own knowledge and experience:www.northyorks.gov.uk/advice-your-job-application

NYC are committed to directly recruiting staff and will not accept applications nor services from agency suppliers in respect of our vacancies.

We are committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

North Yorkshire Councils’ purpose is to deliver services and facilities to the diverse residents and visitors of North Yorkshire. To ensure we deliver inclusive services we strive to have a diverse workforce where everybody can be themselves by respecting differences and embedding equality of opportunity. We celebrate diversity and recognise each other’s contributions; we therefore welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Position type: 37 hours per week