Section Head - Licensing, Communities & Corporate Legal

CompanyLeeds City Council

LocationLeeds, England, United Kingdom

Posted At1/21/2026

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Occupation Type

Functional managers and directors not elsewhere classified.

Occupation Code Skill LevelHigher Skilled

Sponsorship Salary Threshold

£74,700 (£38.31 per hour)

Occupation rate applies

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Description

Job title: Section Head – Licensing, Communities & Corporate Legal

Salary: DIR 52.5% £70,210 – £77,020

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Hybrid / Civic Hall, Leeds

As a Section Head you’ll be part of the leadership team of a large Lexcel-accredited Legal Service and you will thrive on leading a group of dynamic and talented lawyers to deliver high quality legal services to the Council.

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 and ambitions .

About You

As a Section Head, you will bring to the role:

Extensive post-qualification experience as a qualified solicitor, barrister with practising rights or FCILEx in one or more of the following areas of law:

Adult Social Care
Antisocial Behaviour
Education
Employment
Licensing
Prosecutions

Strong leadership and management skills to maintain a high-performance culture across the Section and the wider Service

The communication skills necessary to develop and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders and partners

A willingness to be innovative and take a problem-solving approach to legal challenges

The interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence to unlock the potential of everyone in the Section

About The Role

As our next Section Head you will play a key role in a number of ways. You will provide leadership to a diverse Legal Section, covering several areas of law which are essential to the wider Council: Adult Social Care, Antisocial Behaviour, Education, Employment, Licensing and Prosecutions. Supported by two Team Leaders, you will take the strategic lead on two or more of these areas alongside overall management responsibility for the Section. In addition to your leadership role you will undertake a case load of legally complex, high-profile and/or high-value matters. This is an opportunity to get involved with advising on issues that affect not only the wider Council but the entire city.

The role is integral to our Legal Services Management Team. You will not only be responsible for the Licensing Communities & Corporate Legal Section, but alongside the other Section Heads you will have the opportunity to lead on Service-wide projects and support the Heads of Service to deliver service improvement, transformational change and a high-performance forward thinking culture.

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

How To Apply

Please upload your CV and complete a personal statement of no more than 500 words.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Kev Shillitto, Head of Service, on 0113 3784193 r by email at Kevin.Shillitto@leeds.gov.uk .

Interviews are provisionally planned to take place w/c 16th February or 23rd February.

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. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose Assist in planning, organising, managing and developing the provision of high quality effective and consistent highly regarded legal services.

Responsibilities

Assist the City Solicitor and Heads of Service in planning, organising, managing and developing the provision of high quality, effective and consistent services, providing strategic leadership and management that adds value and supports the delivery of the Council’s strategic objectives.

Be an expert in legal practice in one or more areas of Adult Social Care, Antisocial Behaviour, Education, Employment, Licensing or Prosecutions.

Provide advice on complex, high value net worth, nationally strategic matters and leadership.

As a member of the Legal Services Management Team provide strategic leadership and management to the appointed section, and flexibly across the Service.

Deliver programmes of strategic significance to the Council to deliver services in line with Council priorities.

Share responsibility for the development and delivery of the service plan and continuous improvement initiatives through leading and contributing to cross Council projects, collaborative working with partners and supporting Directorate management teams.

In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for all financial resources within the service area ensuring value for money and working within financial regulations

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 issued by the Law Society), Barrister qualified to practice or FCILEX
Managerial experience is essential.

Working Context

Post holders will work flexibly both at home and at one or more of our Leeds city centre offices. Attendance may occasionally be required at other 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 worked are mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder may 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 It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Significant knowledge and understanding of the law and practice relating to local government law and specifically one or more of Adult Social Care, Antisocial Behaviour, Education, Employment, Licensing or Prosecutions.

Knowledge of Quality Management Systems.

Substantial experience of dealing with a significant caseload of highly complex legal matters in one or more of the above areas.

Significant experience of dealing with “high profile” and sensitive legal cases (i.e. those involving significant financial, political or publicity consequences).

Evidence of developing and driving a culture which puts customers first and where everyone can realise their potential and ‘feels they count’.

Substantial senior leadership and management experience relevant to the area of service delivery.

Able to demonstrate examples of managing services, implementing change and achieving quality transformational outcomes.

Experience of working with senior management to shape and influence the delivery of the council’s strategic priorities at a City, Directorate and Service level.

Substantial experience in building credible and effective collaborative relationships which command respect, trust and confidence 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.

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.

Behavioural & Other Characteristics Required

Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of being a Healthy, Growing, Thriving and Resilient city.
Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
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.

Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.

Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.

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