Director of Legal Services in High Wycombe

Salary: £122,173 (inclusive of salary supplement) + excellent benefits

Location: Wooburn Green, High Wycombe or Baldock, Letchworth Garden City

Hybrid: 2 days per week on site, 3 days per week from home.

Contract: Permanent

Are you looking to join a growing, values‑led organisation with a clear social purpose? At SettleParadigm, we’re proud to be the largest housing group in the region, managing over 30,000 homes across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire. Everything we do is about delivering excellent services, high quality homes, neighbourhoods we can be proud of and maximising the number of new affordable homes we build. Through our merger we’ve brought together shared values, skills and ambition, so we can build more affordable homes and make an even bigger difference in the communities we serve. If you're ready to grow your career in a supportive, inclusive environment while helping to shape stronger communities, we’d love to welcome you on our journey. Together, we’re building a better future.

About The Role

Reporting to the Group General Counsel, the Director of Legal Services leads the operational delivery of legal services across SettleParadigm. You will act as a senior adviser to the Executive Team and Board, ensuring the organisation maintains the highest standards of legal compliance, governance and regulatory assurance. You will oversee the design and delivery of legal services to client departments, manage legal risk, and ensure our legal function is responsive, commercially aware and aligned to organisational priorities. As part of the Director leadership group, you will also deputise for the General Counsel when required. This is a role for an experienced, strategic legal leader who can balance risk with organisational ambition, influence at the highest levels, and shape a modern, proactive legal service.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Legal Support
  • Support the General Counsel in delivering the organisation’s legal and governance strategy
  • Provide high‑quality legal advice on complex, high‑risk matters
  • Contribute to Executive and Board papers, clearly articulating legal, regulatory and risk implications
  • Balance legal risk with commercial, operational and customer‑focused priorities
• Regulatory Compliance & Legal Risk
  • Support compliance with regulatory frameworks including Regulator of Social Housing standards, company and charity law, housing law, data protection and health & safety
  • Lead the identification, management and escalation of legal risk
  • Support regulatory engagement, inspections and reporting
  • Assist with responses to serious incidents, disputes and regulatory scrutiny
• Legal Services Leadership
  • Lead and manage the Legal Services function
  • Oversee legal work across housing management, tenancy enforcement, litigation, dispute resolution and commercial contracts
  • Manage external legal advisers, ensuring quality and value for money
  • Review and optimise delivery models (in‑house vs external)
• Tenant & Operational Support
  • Provide legal advice on building safety, repairs, disrepair, complaints and Housing Ombudsman matters
  • Support lawful, fair and transparent service delivery aligned to consumer standards
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Build strong relationships with Executive colleagues, senior leaders and operational teams
  • Support engagement with regulators, local authorities, funders and partners
  • Represent the organisation externally where appropriate
• Leadership & Resource Management
  • Lead, develop and performance‑manage the Legal Services team
  • Manage legal budgets and external spend
  • Ensure resources align with organisational risk priorities
  • Promote a proactive, commercially aware and solutions‑focused legal culture
  • Deliver KPI and matter reporting to demonstrate efficient, cost‑effective legal outcomes
• Deputising for the General Counsel
  • Provide continuity of leadership across legal and data protection functions
  • Support cross‑organisational initiatives at senior level

What We’re Looking For

You will be a senior legal professional with significant experience gained in‑house or in private practice. You will bring strong influencing skills, excellent judgement and the ability to navigate complex legal, regulatory and organisational issues with clarity and confidence. You will be a collaborative leader who can build strong relationships across senior stakeholders, manage a high‑performing team and deliver a modern, responsive legal service.

Must Haves

• Qualified solicitor (England & Wales)
• Significant senior‑level experience in private practice or an in‑house legal function
• Strong expertise in housing law and/or regulated environments
• Experience advising senior leadership and contributing to Board‑level decision making
• Confident communicator able to convey complex issues clearly
• Strong understanding of legal risk management, service delivery and regulatory compliance
• Proven leadership and team management experience
• Pragmatic, commercially aware approach with excellent judgement

Nice To Haves

• Experience within a housing association or similar regulated organisation
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections or engagement
• Company secretarial experience
• Experience in legal work relevant to a large registered provider (landlord & tenant, housing management, contract, non‑contentious property)

Key Behaviours

• Trusted, credible deputy to an Executive‑level General Counsel
• Clear, proportionate and solutions‑focused advice
• Strong service delivery and legal risk mindset
• Collaborative and influential across senior stakeholders

Benefits

• Annual salary: £117,237 + £4,936 salary supplement per annum
• 30 days holiday, increasing with service, plus Christmas closure and buy options
• Generous pension scheme – up to 9.5% employer contribution via salary sacrifice
• Family‑friendly leave: Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Health cash plan – claim up to £1,800 for everyday health costs (plus free kids’ cover)
• Life cover and income protection
• Flexible working – hybrid options, modern offices, free parking & EV charging

And that’s just the beginning! We’re also thrilled to provide:

• Mental Health First Aiders available to support
• Car leasing via salary sacrifice (for permanent colleagues subject to conditions)
• Funded training, qualifications & apprenticeships
• 3 paid volunteering days in the local communities
• Peer‑recognition rewards platform
• Paid professional subscription (one per year)

Working Hours

37 hours per week Monday‑Friday

Our Commitment

We are committed to creating an inclusive workforce, by reflecting and representing the diversity of the communities we serve. We would like to encourage applications from disadvantaged socio‑economic backgrounds; people who identify as disabled, neurodiverse, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people from underrepresented groups.

Accessibility and Adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in advance of any suitable arrangements required. Due to the nature of some of our roles involving work with vulnerable members of society, this post may be subject to a basic or enhanced Criminal Disclosure, which will be carried out when a conditional offer is made. Please ensure you fully answer the questions on the application form.

Closing Date: 31.07.2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the closing date should we find a suitable candidate.