Senior Coroner for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin20/02/2026 17:00
The Guildhall, Shrewsbury
Senior Coroner for Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin
Salary £137,379 to £148,105
Closing date: 5pm Friday 20th February 2026
Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Councils are seeking to appoint a new Senior Coroner to succeed the current post-holder who retires in July 2026.
About the Post:
The Senior Coroner stands at the head of the local coroner service and statutory coroner area and takes the lead on coroner work and will be expected to conduct inquests which are difficult or complex or will be likely to attract significant publicity.
The number of reported deaths pa is 1716 (2024). Accordingly, we appoint our Senior Coroner with a salary on a full-time basis.
The salary will include payment for out of hours availability by agreement (i.e. organ donation, faith deaths, out of England removals).
Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Councils are looking for an exceptional candidate with excellent proven organisational, management and efficiency skills, as well as experience of exercising sound judgement and communicating effectively. You will work closely with Shropshire Council (as the lead authority) to ensure the running of an efficient coroner service that puts the bereaved at the heart of the service. Collaborative working with the local authority, the police and other stakeholders is essential.
You will be required to demonstrate knowledge and experience of coroner law and of basic medicine, have proven skills in conducting investigations and an understanding of court procedure. You will also need to demonstrate the excellent communication and interpersonal skills necessary to deal with sensitive situations.
It is essential that the successful candidate has proven experience of running or sharing running a coroner’s jurisdiction including carrying out investigations, case management, and conducting inquests.
Who can apply:
The successful candidate will be a barrister or a solicitor or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition which means they will have five years of experience whilst holding that qualification. They will be under the age of 75, have experience of working as a Senior Coroner, area coroner or assistant coroner and be subject to the appointment and eligibility conditions within the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (s.23 and Schedule 3).
Statutory terms of the Appointment:
Once a Coroner is appointed, they are then a Judicial Office holder until they reach the age of 75 years (compulsory retirement age) unless they choose to resign or are removed by the Lord Chief Justice or Lord Chancellor prior to their 75th birthday.
How to apply:
Application pack: 3. senior coroner appointment pack january 2026 230126 for advert
If you wish to have an informal discussion or arrange a visit, please contact Tim Collard, Service Director – Legal, Governance and Planning on 01743 252756 or tim.collard@shropshire.gov.uk
Suitably qualified applicants are requested to email their CV and supporting statement (which should include disclosure of any convictions or disciplinary proceedings) to molly.ashelford@shropshire.gov.uk
Notification
The vacancy for this post has been notified to the Chief Coroner and Lord Chancellor (as required by statute).