Head of Legal Services & Deputy Monitoring Officer | Southend City Council | £79,807 - £89,823
Are you a senior local government lawyer ready to lead at the highest level?
Southend City Council is looking for an exceptional Head of Legal Services and Deputy Monitoring Officer to shape and lead one of the most broad-ranging legal teams in the east of England. This is a genuine leadership role with strategic weight, political reach, and real opportunity to make your mark on a dynamic City Council.
The Role
Reporting to the Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer), you will have full accountability for a multidisciplinary legal team spanning planning, housing, adult and children's social care, commercial, procurement, licensing, employment, litigation, information governance, and more. You will directly line manage the Principal Lawyers, hold a caseload of complex and politically sensitive matters, and act as Deputy Monitoring Officer, advising elected Members at the most senior levels of council governance.
With a budget of approximately £3.5m, this is a role for someone who combines legal excellence with the commercial acumen and leadership confidence to drive continuous improvement across a busy, high-performing service.
What You Will Bring
- Solicitor or Barrister with a minimum of 7 years PQE
- Experience as a Monitoring Officer or Deputy Monitoring Officer in a local authority setting
- The ability to lead, inspire, and develop experienced lawyers and early-career talent alike
- Strong political awareness and proven experience working with elected Members
- A track record of delivering high-quality, value-for-money legal services
Why This Role?
Southend became a City Council in 2022, bringing with it renewed ambition and a fresh sense of purpose. The Legal Services function sits at the heart of the council's Strategy and Change department, and this appointment will be pivotal in defining how that function evolves. Hybrid working is available, with a minimum of two days per week at the Civic Centre.
If you are looking for a senior role that will genuinely test your leadership, stretch your expertise, and put you at the centre of a major city's governance, we would love to hear from you.