At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team providing legal advice on property transactions and support major development projects.
- 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 discounts.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to equality and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in affordable housing while developing your legal career.
- Qualifications: Qualified Solicitor with 5+ years PQE and strong property law expertise.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ 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?
- 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 in London employer: Notting Hill Genesis Group
Notting Hill Genesis is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee development and well-being. As the Head of Legal for Property Transactions, you will benefit from flexible working opportunities, a generous pension scheme, and access to extensive learning resources, all while contributing to meaningful projects that provide affordable housing for Londoners. Join a team that values collaboration and continuous improvement, ensuring you thrive in your role while making a positive impact in the community.
Contact Details:
Notting Hill Genesis Group Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Legal - Property Transactions in London
✨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 how you can contribute to their goals during the interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your experience in managing complex property transactions and leading teams. Highlight specific examples that demonstrate your leadership and problem-solving skills.
✨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.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Legal - Property Transactions in London
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 legal transactions. 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 team, be sure to emphasise your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've developed high-performing teams and fostered collaboration in previous roles. We love to see a strong focus on team culture!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to convey your expertise in property transactions and legal advice. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
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, planning law, and shared ownership transactions. Brush up on recent legislative changes and be ready to discuss how they impact 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 and fostered a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
This role requires excellent stakeholder engagement skills. Think about times when you've provided legal advice to senior stakeholders and how you ensured that your guidance was pragmatic and commercially focused. Be ready to share these experiences during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Your Commercial Awareness
With a strong focus on compliance and risk management, it's important to show your commercial awareness. Prepare to discuss how you've balanced legal considerations with business objectives in previous roles, ensuring value for money while managing complex transactions.
