Town Hall Extension, Albert Square,
Manchester, M60 2LA
Manchester
About the role
As the city continues to deliver ambitious growth, deepen devolution and tackle some of the most complex opportunities and challenges facing local government, strong legal and governance leadership has never been more important.
THE ROLE
As Fiona Ledden steps down in May 2027, Manchester is seeking its next City Solicitor and Monitoring Officer to join its Corporate Management Team and help shape the future of one of the UK’s most ambitious and influential cities. Reporting to the Strategic Director of Resources & Transformation and working closely with the Chief Executive and elected members, you will provide strategic legal, governance and constitutional leadership at the heart of the organisation.
As the Council’s statutory Monitoring Officer, you will safeguard the highest standards of legality, probity and ethical governance, while leading a broad portfolio that includes the shared legal service for Manchester and Salford, alongside Democratic Services, Electoral Services, Strategic Communications, Registration Services and the Coroner’s Service.
We are seeking a qualified solicitor or barrister with outstanding legal judgement, political awareness and leadership credentials. Whether already operating at this level or ready to step into a role of national significance, you will bring the credibility, resilience and strategic vision needed to support Manchester’s continued growth, influence and success.
Closing date: 1 st November 2026
Longlist meeting: 5 th November 2026
Preliminary interviews: w/c 9 th November 2026 (Teams)
Shortlist meeting: 16 th November 2026
1:1s with Leader and CEx: 23 rd November 2026 (Teams)
Stakeholder and final panels: 30 th November 2026 (in-person)
Cllr Garry Bridges – Leader of Manchester City Council
Manchester is one of the UK’s most dynamic and progressive cities. We’re proud of our history, ambitious for our future, and committed to ensuring that growth and opportunity are shared by everyone who lives here.
As we continue to deliver at pace, we’re looking for an exceptional City Solicitor who can provide outstanding legal leadership, sound judgement and trusted advice at the heart of decision-making. This is a role with significant visibility and influence, working closely with elected members across the council to support effective governance and ensure that robust, well-informed decisions are made in the best interests of our residents.
The City Solicitor plays a vital role in maintaining the strong relationship between officers and members that underpins successful local government. You’ll act as a trusted adviser to councillors, support democratic processes, and help navigate the opportunities and challenges that come with leading one of the country’s largest and most influential cities.
You’ll need the confidence and credibility to engage constructively with members at all levels, translating complex legal issues into clear, practical advice and helping us deliver our ambitions with integrity and accountability.
This is a rare opportunity to join a council that combines significant scale, complexity and influence with a genuine commitment to public service. If you’re inspired by the opportunity to make a difference in Manchester, we’d love to hear from you.
Message from Tom Stannard, Chief Executive
Manchester City Council 1.69K subscribers
Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer
Thank you for your interest in the role of City Solicitor at Manchester City Council.
This is one of the most important legal leadership positions in local government. As a member of our Corporate Management Team, the successful candidate will play a central role in supporting effective decision-making, maintaining the highest standards of governance and helping to shape the future of one of the UK’s most ambitious and influential cities.
Following the decision of Fiona Ledden to step down in 2027, we are seeking an exceptional leader to build on a strong legacy and guide a highly respected portfolio that encompasses the shared legal service for Manchester and Salford, alongside Democratic Services, Electoral Services, Strategic Communications, Registration Services and the Coroner’s Service.
This is a role of considerable breadth and influence. You will work closely with elected members, the Chief Executive and senior colleagues across the organisation, providing trusted advice on complex issues and helping us navigate the opportunities and challenges facing local government and our city.
We are looking for someone who combines outstanding legal expertise with sound judgement, political awareness and a collaborative leadership style. Most importantly, we want to appoint someone who shares our commitment to public service and who is excited by the opportunity to make a lasting contribution to Manchester.
I hope this website and the details contained within provides you with a sense of both the scale of the role and the importance of the contribution it makes. Thank you for considering Manchester as the next step in your career.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Wilkinson
Strategic Director Corporate Services & City Treasurer
Manchester City Council
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