At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic legal team in managing property transactions and providing expert legal advice.
- Company: Join Notting Hill Genesis, a leading not-for-profit housing association in London.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a range of employee perks.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to equality and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on affordable housing while developing your legal career.
- Qualifications: Qualified Solicitor with 5+ years PQE and strong property law expertise.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
As the Head of Legal (Transactions), you will lead the property transactions legal function within NHG’s newly centralised Legal Services team. You will manage a specialist team delivering high-quality legal advice and support across acquisitions, disposals, leases, development agreements, shared ownership transactions, and commercial property matters.
Reporting into the Director of Legal, you’ll play a key role in supporting NHG’s sales and development ambitions by ensuring property transactions are managed efficiently, compliantly, and with a strong focus on risk management and value for money. You will act as a trusted adviser to senior stakeholders, providing pragmatic and commercially focused legal guidance across a broad range of property-related matters.
You’ll also lead and develop a high-performing legal team, embedding a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and customer focus across the service.
How you’ll do it
- Lead the provision of legal advice and support across acquisitions, disposals, development agreements, leases, commercial property, and shared ownership transactions.
- Provide expert legal guidance on title defects, restrictive covenants, easements, planning obligations, and building safety considerations.
- Manage and develop a team of solicitors and paralegals, creating a high-performance and collaborative culture.
- Oversee complex property transactions and support large-scale development projects across the organisation.
- Ensure non‑complex legal work is delivered efficiently in‑house, including staircasing, resales, remortgages, lease extensions, and property transfers.
- Develop and improve legal processes, procedures, and governance arrangements to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.
- Manage relationships with external solicitors and legal providers, ensuring value for money and high standards of service delivery.
- Deliver training and guidance to operational, sales, and development teams to strengthen legal awareness and self‑service capability.
- Horizon‑scan legislative and regulatory developments relating to property, planning, and housing law, ensuring the organisation remains compliant and informed.
- Provide senior‑level legal advice and support to stakeholders across NHG.
The ideal candidate
- Qualified Solicitor of England and Wales with a valid Practising Certificate.
- Minimum 5 years PQE.
- Experience working within a social housing legal department, housing association, local authority, or private practice environment.
- Expert knowledge of property law, landlord and tenant legislation, planning law, shared ownership leases and transactions, and affordable housing frameworks.
- Strong leadership and people management experience.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
- Experience managing complex legal caseloads within a fast‑paced environment.
- Strong commercial awareness with a focus on compliance and risk management.
- Proficiency using legal databases, case management systems, and Microsoft Office.
- Ability to deliver strategic, pragmatic, and customer‑focused legal advice.
What’s in it for you?
- You’ll also have access to a wide range of learning opportunities to help you achieve and maximise your potential.
- Excellent annual leave allowance.
- Flexible working opportunities (qualifying period may apply).
- Generous pension scheme.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption pay in addition to statutory entitlements (qualifying period may apply).
- Employee assistance—free confidential advice and counselling services provided by independent specialist organisations.
- Health cash plan.
- Staff discounts at major retailers, gyms, restaurants, entertainment, and more.
- Interest‑free loans (season ticket loan, tenancy deposit loan, and training loan).
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Life Assurance x 4 annual salary.
All about us
Notting Hill Genesis is a not‑for‑profit organisation providing affordable homes for Londoners and it is now one of the largest housing associations in London. We are both a landlord and a developer, with more than 65,000 existing homes and 10,000 more in our pipeline and we employ around 1,800 employees.
Equal Employment Opportunity
We welcome applications from everyone. We actively monitor the diversity of our workforce and strive to show equal representation throughout all levels of the organisation. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident employer amongst other diversity commitments. To find out more about our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion please visit group.nhg.org.uk/careers/diversity-is-our-strength.
Head of Legal - Property Transactions employer: Notting Hill Genesis Group
Notting Hill Genesis is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where you can lead a high-performing legal team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the social housing sector. With a strong focus on employee development, flexible working opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package, including generous leave and health plans, we foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Join us in our mission to provide affordable homes for Londoners while enjoying the unique advantages of working within one of the largest housing associations in the capital.
Contact Details:
Notting Hill Genesis Group Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Legal - Property Transactions
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the legal and property sectors. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching NHG and its recent projects. Understand their values and how they align with your experience in property law. This will help you showcase your expertise and demonstrate that you’re the perfect fit for the Head of Legal role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your background in managing complex legal transactions can benefit NHG. Highlight your leadership skills and how you can foster a collaborative culture within the legal team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at NHG. Let’s get you that interview!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Legal - Property Transactions
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in property law and team management. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Head of Legal, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a key part of this role is leading a high-performing team, be sure to include examples of your leadership experience. We’re looking for someone who can foster collaboration and continuous improvement, so share any relevant stories that demonstrate this.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the heart of your qualifications and experiences. Avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the role!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our organisation there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Notting Hill Genesis Group
✨Know Your Property Law Inside Out
As the Head of Legal for Property Transactions, you’ll need to demonstrate a solid grasp of property law, including landlord and tenant legislation. Brush up on key concepts like title defects, easements, and planning obligations, so you can confidently discuss how these apply to NHG’s operations.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
You’ll be managing a team of solicitors and paralegals, so it’s crucial to highlight your leadership experience. Prepare examples of how you’ve developed high-performing teams in the past, focusing on collaboration and continuous improvement, which are key to NHG’s culture.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement
This role involves acting as a trusted adviser to senior stakeholders. Think about how you can effectively communicate complex legal advice in a pragmatic way. Be ready to share examples of how you’ve successfully engaged with stakeholders in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Your Commercial Awareness
NHG values a strong focus on compliance and risk management. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve balanced legal considerations with commercial objectives in past transactions. This will show that you understand the bigger picture and can contribute to NHG’s sales and development ambitions.
