Head of Legal Services

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.

• 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

• Qualification as a solicitor or barrister

• 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

• 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

• 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