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 discounts.
- 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 at least 5 years PQE and strong property law knowledge.
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 will 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.
We believe great service starts with great people, and we are committed to recruiting and developing passionate, enthusiastic, and talented individuals who can add value to our thriving organisation.
Essential
- 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?
Once you join us, you'll find plenty of opportunities to grow within our organisation. You'll also have access to a wide range of learning opportunities to help you achieve and maximise your potential.
Benefits include
- Excellent annual leave allowance and 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 - we give our staff access to discounts at hundreds of major retailers, gyms, restaurants, entertainment, days out, insurance, and much more.
- Interest free loans - season ticket loan, tenancy deposit loan, and training loan.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Life Assurance x 4 annual salary.
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.
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.
Selection Process
- Step 1: If you are interested, please send your application now! Closing date is 14 June 2026.
- Step 2: Successful candidates will be asked to do an assessment.
- Step 3: Successful candidates will be invited to interview.
Please apply for this role online. If you are not able to apply online or if you have any reasonable adjustment requirements arising from a disability or medical condition to fully participate in the recruitment process, please discuss this with our hiring team.
NHG reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role, so we advise you to submit your application at your earliest opportunity.
Head of Legal - Property Transactions in London employer: Notting Hill Genesis
Notting Hill Genesis is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. With a strong focus on collaboration and continuous improvement, employees benefit from flexible working arrangements, generous leave policies, and access to extensive learning opportunities, all while contributing to the vital mission of providing affordable housing in London.
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! Get out there and connect with people in the property law sector. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching NHG and its legal services. Understand their recent projects and challenges in property transactions. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Head of Legal. Highlight your leadership skills and your ability to manage complex legal matters. Confidence is key, so rehearse until it feels natural.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team. So, get that application in and let’s make it happen!
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 leadership. 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 Expertise:When detailing your experience, focus on specific property transactions you've managed. We’re looking for someone who can provide expert legal guidance, so include examples that demonstrate your knowledge of planning law and compliance.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at NHG!
How to prepare for a job interview at Notting Hill Genesis
✨Know Your Property Law Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of property law, especially around landlord and tenant legislation, planning law, and shared ownership transactions. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're the expert they need.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past. Highlight your experience in developing a collaborative culture and how you've led high-performing teams. This is crucial for the Head of Legal role, so make it a key part of your discussion.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you've effectively engaged with senior stakeholders before. Be ready to share specific instances where your legal advice made a significant impact on decision-making. This will demonstrate your ability to act as a trusted adviser.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Be prepared to discuss how you balance compliance and risk management with commercial objectives. Show that you understand the importance of delivering value for money in property transactions, as this aligns with the organisation's goals.
