Head of Legal Services at Cheshire East Council, leading the council's legal function and acting as principal deputy to the Director of Law & Governance in Monitoring Officer duties. The post centres on running a large multidisciplinary legal team and giving senior advice on governance and constitutional matters to officers and elected Members. It is part of a redesign of the service towards a customer-focused model, including achieving and keeping Lexcel accreditation. Fit depends on being a solicitor or barrister with extensive post-qualification experience in local government or a similarly complex setting.
What the job involves
- Provide strategic leadership and management of the Legal Services function
- Act as principal deputy to the Director of Law & Governance in discharging statutory Monitoring Officer responsibilities
- Provide trusted legal, governance and constitutional advice to senior officers and elected Members
- Lead and develop a high-performing, customer-focused legal service
- Lead the improvement programme, including progressing and maintaining Lexcel accreditation
- Promote the highest standards of governance, transparency and ethical conduct
- Develop service plans, workforce plans and performance frameworks
- Lead quality assurance and continuous improvement initiatives
- Build strong professional relationships across the organisation and externally
- Work with the Monitoring Officer, Section 151 Officer, Chief Executive and Members to support sound decision-making and manage organisational risk
- Contribute to the Council's improvement agenda and medium-term sustainability objectives
Qualifications
- Qualification as a solicitor or barrister
Experience
- Extensive post-qualification legal experience
- Significant leadership experience within local government or a similarly complex environment
- Experience of leading and developing large professional teams
- Track record of service transformation and organisational improvement
- Experience of operating successfully in politically sensitive environments
Skills & knowledge
- Strong understanding of governance, constitutional law and public sector decision-making
- Strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking
- Commitment to innovation, customer focus and service excellence
- Leadership capability to build a culture of accountability, learning and high performance
What’s offered
- 34 days annual leave including bank holidays from day 1, rising to 39 days after 5 years' service
- Career average public pension, building at 1/49th of pensionable pay a year
- 37-hour standard full-time week with flexi time and hybrid or remote working
- Option to buy up to 10 extra days' annual leave each year, pro rata for part-time staff
- Cycle to work scheme with income tax and National Insurance savings
- Free, confidential employee assistance programme
- Discounts on Virgin Media Broadband and O2 pay monthly plans
- Discounted gym membership at Everybody Leisure facilities
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Contact Details:
The Methodist Church in Britain Recruitment Team
