Interim Director of Legal and Governance and MO

Location: North East England

Contract: Interim, 9 months

Rate: Negotiable (disclosed over the phone)

Hours: Full-time preferred, 4-day week considered

Start Date: Mid-August 2025

Overview

A forward-thinking local authority in North East England is seeking an experienced Interim Director of Governance and Legal to act as Monitoring Officer. This role ensures legal governance, standards, and election readiness during the secondment of the current Monitoring Officer.

Key Responsibilities

• Fulfil statutory duties of Monitoring Officer.
• Act as Director of Governance and Legal, focusing on legal, governance, and corporate legal services.
• Participate in and influence the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT).
• Lead cabinet briefings, committee cycles, and council meetings.
• Serve as Data Protection Officer (DPO), supported by a deputy.
• Oversee elections project, including acting as Deputy Returning Officer if needed.
• Drive constitutional reviews and update policies.
• Manage councillor standards and conduct cases.
• Oversee legal matters related to judicial reviews, appeals, and information governance.
• Legal qualification required (Solicitor/Barrister/Legal Executive).
• Previous experience as Monitoring Officer or Deputy Monitoring Officer within a local authority.
• Ability to operate in politically sensitive environments and manage high-profile standards issues.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills with senior leadership and elected members.

If interested, please click apply or contact Georgia Macmenemey at 0117 284 0003 or via email for more details.