Head of Legal Services and Deputy Monitoring Officer, Maldon

Head of Legal Services and Deputy Monitoring Officer - Maldon District Council

Maldon District Council

Essex Shared Services is pleased to partner with Maldon District Council to recruit a Head of Legal Services and Deputy Monitoring Officer. This permanent position offers a hybrid working arrangement, with an expectation of being in the office two days per week.

The role is well suited to an experienced Head of Legal or a skilled lawyer/solicitor with strong local government expertise, who is ready to take the next step in their career.

Role Purpose:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Council's legal services.
• Act as Deputy Monitoring Officer, advising on governance, ethical standards, and statutory responsibilities.
• Support elected members and senior officers in making legally compliant, well-informed decisions.
• Lead, develop, and motivate the legal team to deliver high-quality, professional, and responsive services.
• Oversee the management of corporate, commercial, property, regulatory, and other legal matters.
• Ensure effective risk management and mitigation through sound legal advice and proactive guidance.
• Contribute to the Council's strategic objectives by providing innovative legal solutions and influencing policy development.
• Represent the Council in legal matters and maintain relationships with external legal partners, regulators, and stakeholders.
• Promote a culture of integrity, resilience, and continuous improvement within the team and across the organisation.

Accountabilities - Service Delivery:

• Provide authoritative legal advice to elected members, senior officers, and committees, ensuring decisions are compliant with legislation, the Constitution, and ethical standards.
• Act as Deputy Monitoring Officer, supporting the Monitoring Officer in upholding good governance, probity, and member conduct requirements.
• Oversee the management and delivery of all corporate, commercial, property, regulatory, and other legal matters affecting the Council.
• Ensure timely, high-quality, and commercially aware legal support across all services, enabling the Council to meet strategic objectives.
• Maintain and develop governance frameworks, policies, and procedures to ensure the Council operates lawfully, transparently, and effectively.
• Manage risk proactively by identifying potential legal, regulatory, and reputational issues and providing clear mitigation strategies.
• Lead the commissioning and management of external legal services, ensuring value for money, quality, and compliance.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and modernisation of legal services, embedding best practice and digital solutions where appropriate.
• Foster effective collaboration across services, promoting a joined-up approach to legal advice and governance issues.
• Represent the Council in negotiations, legal proceedings, and external forums as required, maintaining the Council's reputation and legal interests.

The Experience You Will Bring:

Knowledge: The ideal candidate will bring extensive knowledge of local government law, including constitutional, commercial, property, and regulatory matters. A strong understanding of statutory duties, governance frameworks, ethical standards, member conduct, and the responsibilities of the Deputy Monitoring Officer is essential. You must be familiar with risk management, legal compliance, performance management, and the wider challenges facing local authorities, such as financial pressures and increasing regulatory scrutiny.

Awareness of best practice in delivering modern, integrated legal and governance services is key.

Experience: You will have a proven leadership track record within legal services or a related statutory governance function in local government or the wider public sector. This includes providing authoritative legal advice to senior officers and elected members, managing complex legal matters across contracts, property, regulatory issues, and risk, and operating effectively in politically sensitive environments. Experience acting as a Deputy Monitoring Officer, leading high‑performing teams, managing budgets, commissioning external legal support, and driving service…