Milton Keynes Council are recruiting for a Head of Legal to join their team on a 6 month contract.

Purpose of Role

The purpose of the role is to proactively lead and manage the delivery of Legal Services and be the Deputy Monitoring Officer for the Council and a member of the Law and Governance Management team.

Provide operational and strategic vision, strong leadership and support as a key management role and be accountable for the effective delivery of the Legal Service

To ensure the Legal Services are run in the most cost effective and efficient way.

To raise the profile of Legal Services internally, regionally and nationally by collaborative working, professional networking and innovation in solutions.

Key Objectives

* Be accountable for the provision and development of Legal services

* Deputise for the Director Law and Governance as required which includes the role of Deputy Monitoring Officer.

* Be responsible for the Legal services budget including monitoring and reporting with a view to delivering savings and a cost effective service.

* Personally provide high quality and timely legal advice and legal professional work to the Council.

* Ensure that the Council receives timely, cost effective and customer focussed legal advice that appropriately meets the needs of all stakeholders and customers including work with Departments in developing appropriate legal performance reporting.

* Develop, implement and review the Service Plan.

* To develop an effective, resilient team and ensure a positive team culture aligned to the Council's corporate values. This includes reviewing effectiveness of existing working methods and devise, in conjunction with relevant staff, creative approaches to service development

* Support the discharge of the statutory duties and responsibilities of the Monitoring Officer, promoting high standards of conduct across the Council

* Be an integral member of the Law and Governance management Team providing advice and leadership to all colleagues and advice and support to Councillors

* Be accountable for the scale, management and organisation of resources and assets within the Legal service to meet corporate standards of performance

* Identify and promote new and innovative opportunities to develop the Legal service for the future including alternative methods of service delivery.

Person Specification

* Practising Solicitor, Barrister or equivalent

* Post graduate management qualification or evidence of senior management development

* Evidence of continuing professional development

* Significant legal and managerial experience in a comparable organisation

* Excellent knowledge and experience of local government law and practice

* Evidence of successful contributions to strategic and corporate policies and plans

* Experience as a Monitoring Officer or a Deputy Monitoring Officer

* Thorough understanding of major legislation and policy issues affecting local government particularly corporate governance