Interim Legal And Governance Officer in Chelmsford

Work for a Local authority near London as an Interim Legal and Governance Officer. Hybrid – FTC 1 year – £500 per day (umbrella, Inside IR35) or £58,332 to £68,626 pro rata.

Purpose of the Role

• Provide legal and governance advice supporting lawful, transparent and effective decision‑making.
• Assist in developing and implementing governance frameworks and constitutional documents.
• Support Monitoring Officer duties and ensure statutory and regulatory compliance.
• Contribute to organisational resilience, risk management and democratic accountability.
• Help shape a collaborative, high‑integrity organisational culture.
• Build partnerships and work across the public, private, and not‑for‑profit sectors to drive inward investment, secure funding from government, and ensure value for money in all financial commitments.

Leadership & Governance Frameworks

• Support delivery of legal, governance and compliance functions.
• Act as the designated scrutiny officer for the CCA, ensuring compliance and effective oversight.
• Contribute to governance policy and system development.
• Maintain legal and governance processes, systems and documentation.
• Support compliance checks and reporting within the Assurance Framework.
• Provide timely, accurate advice to officers and elected members once appointed.

Legal Advisory

• Draft, review and support negotiation of contracts and agreements.
• Support data protection duties and organisational compliance.
• Provide legal and governance advice across organisational workstreams.
• Support design and scaling of governance strategies.
• Manage risks, provide assurance and support business‑case development.

What we look for

• Evidence of CPD and expert knowledge in legal/governance fields.
• Experience providing legal/governance support in local government or similar environments.
• Strong understanding of decision‑making and constitutional frameworks.
• Strong political awareness and judgement.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills.
• Analytical, organised and resilient, with strong prioritisation skills.
• Experience applying local government law and supporting committees/boards.

What we offer

Salary: £500 per day (umbrella, Inside IR35) or £58,332 to £68,626 pro rata.

5 days week – 37.5 hours.

FTC 1 year.