Job title: Head of Service Legal
Salary: DIR 60 £79,939 to £87,722
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Leeds
As a Head of Legal Services at Leeds City Council, you will be an influential leader who relishes the opportunity to ensure we achieve our ambition to be the best local authority In house legal team in the UK and contribute to bringing real improvement to the lives of people in Leeds.
You will have extensive local government experience and expertise in at least one relevant area of law, although more would be preferable, and you will work closely with our specialist Section Heads and Team Leaders who have extensive knowledge and experience in their fields.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values.
Leeds is recognised as the leading legal centre in the UK outside London. At Leeds City Council we have a culture of excellence and are continually striving to drive up standards. We are continuing to build on the recommendations of a positive Peer Review in November 2022 to help to us deliver our Leeds Ambitions.
In Legal Services, we are proud to reflect the diversity of Leeds and to be a welcoming and inclusive team with a positive, healthy workplace culture where everyone can be their best. Our Lexcel accreditation provides external validation of the quality and standards of our Service.
About The Role
Joining Leeds City Council Legal Service as Head of Service you will develop a rewarding career at the heart of the organisation.
You will support the City Solicitor in developing and delivering the strategic direction, vision and shared culture of Legal, Democratic and Information Governance, which contributes to the achievement of the Council vision, values and strategic outcomes.
With leadership accountability, you will be responsible, together with senior managers, for approximately 120 staff and a net managed budget of up to £3.6 million, but with a much wider influence and impact across the organisation and the city.
You will ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the legal professional work of Legal Services, with direct management responsibility for two or more Sections and will undertake a personal caseload of legal professional work.
About You
Committed to continuous improvement, you will have the drive and determination to progress initiatives that will benefit the Council and City. As a natural collaborator, you will build positive relationships with the widest range of partners and colleagues to deliver Council priorities. You will use sound judgement to take a lead on a range of sensitive and strategic issues.
You will come with fresh thinking, energy and compassion for people, be willing to innovate, challenge and drive improved performance. You will be able to apply your knowledge, skills and judgement within a large and complex organisation and must be politically astute, values-driven and outcome focussed.
What We Offer You
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
For further information, please request a candidate information pack by emailing [email protected]
How To Apply
Please email
[email protected] with your CV and a personal statement of no more than 500 words stating how you meet the requirements of the role.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
Please note, interviews will take place w/c 22nd September 2025
Appointing above the minimum salary point will be considered only in exceptional circumstances.
If you like an informal chat about the role, please contact Catherine Witham, City Solicitor at
[email protected] or Nicole Walker, Head of Service at
[email protected]We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job purpose To discharge the role of Deputy Monitoring Officer and to support the City Solicitor to develop and deliver the strategic direction, vision and shared values and culture of Legal, Democratic and Information Governance which contribute to the achievement of the Council vision, values and strategic outcomes.
Responsibilities
- Take lead and be responsible for implementing the Service strategic vision. Drive continuous improvement initiatives through leading and contributing to cross Council projects, collaborative working with partners and supporting Directorate management teams.
- Support the delivery of programmes of strategic significance to the Council in order to deliver services in line with Council & Directorate priorities.
- Responsible for driving a programme that delivers the Council ambitions, in terms of time, budget, quality, quantity and that fits with the Council wider strategic goals and values.
- Discharge the role of Deputy Monitoring Officer, as directed by the City Solicitor.
- Ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the professional legal work of Legal Services, with direct management responsibility for two or more Sections, or as otherwise directed by the City Solicitor, and to prioritise a personal caseload of legal professional work as required by the City Solicitor.
- Lead a positive Health, Safety, Wellbeing and Fire (HSWF) culture, ensuring statutory compliance and effective risk management through implementation of council policies, and proactive leadership alongside support services.
- Lead, plan, manage, develop, commission, monitor and oversee the provision of high quality, customer focussed, can do flexible, resilient and value for money Legal Services across all time periods.
- Ensure effective service delivery through effective governance, project, budget and risk management and through compliance with the Lexcel Quality standard.
- Drive efficiencies, economies, productivity gains and continuous improvement within the Legal Service and Council wide, including through change management.
- Build and embed high levels of trust and confidence with senior officers, elected members and partners, ensuring that they are appropriately briefed and involved in relation to any Service issues and that information is available and accessible to senior internal stakeholders as appropriate.
- Manage, promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and inclusion in all aspects of service delivery, focussing on equality of outcome.
- In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for developing appropriate, proportionate and effective financial solutions to be implemented across the service.
- Management of a number of substantial budgets within assigned service area through effective delegation and shared decision-making demonstrating sound financial scenario planning and a cost conscious approach to the development of business cases to support service transformation. You have a thorough understanding of the issues facing the Council within its economic, business, cultural and political environment. Plans are in place to ensure that there is an efficient and sustainable use of resources, employees are effectively employed, and budgets are maximised.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.
Qualifications Solicitor holding a current practising certificate for England and Wales issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, or a Barrister currently qualified to practice in England and Wales or equivalent is essential.
Working Context Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at various locations across the City and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend regular time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role. The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service.
Essential Requirements
Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
- Ability to and experience of managing priorities effectively and successfully deal with a personal caseload of complex and/or sensitive and/or high-profile work.
- Ability to model the Council values and develop and promote a diverse, inclusive, supportive and positive culture within the Service and the wider Council.
- Significant knowledge and experience of the law and practice relating to local government in general as well expertise in at least one relevant area of law.
- Significant experience of successfully building, developing, leading and managing teams of professionals whilst working Council-wide to contribute to the successful delivery of corporate objectives.
- Experience of effective service delivery through effective governance, project, budget and risk management.
- Significant experience of working in a senior leadership role with responsibility of service management and successfully developing and delivering a Legal Service with a shared strategic vision, culture and values.
- Able to demonstrate examples of managing services, implementing change and achieving quality transformational outcomes.
- Demonstrate knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information and relevant strategic functions e.g. health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection.
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy and policy, understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues.
- Substantial senior leadership and management experience relevant to the area of service delivery.
- Experience of working with senior management to shape and influence the delivery of strategic priorities at a City, Directorate and Service level ensuring people issues are kept at the forefront.
- Substantial experience in building credible and effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders including Directors, elected members, Trade Unions, colleagues and partner organisations.
- Evidence of significant experience and commitment in relation to the engagement of relevant citizens, customers and stakeholders in decision making processes.
- Significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and Corporate Leadership Team which commands respect trust and confidence
Behavioural & Other Characteristics Required.
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and code of conduct.
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of united and thriving communities, health and wellbeing, inclusive economic growth and sustainable futures.
- Committed to developing the ability to use digital tools and technology at, or above, the foundation skills level on the government Essential digital skills framework.
- Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
- Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values and standards of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
- Understand and observe Leeds City Council approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
