Job details

Oxfordshire County Council is seeking an innovative and highly skilled professional to lead its Legal and Governance Services as Head of Legal and Governance. This critical role, acting as the council’s Deputy Monitoring Officer, is central to ensuring the effective delivery of high-quality services that enable the council to operate transparently, lawfully, and with integrity.

As Head of Legal and Governance Services, you will provide expert advice to elected members and senior officers on a wide range of legal, constitutional, and governance matters. Supporting the Monitoring Officer, you will play a key role in ensuring the council’s decision-making processes are robust, legally compliant, and reflective of best practices. You will promote a culture of progressive thinking and performance underpinned by a strong governance and ethical standards across the organisation.

Your responsibilities will include leading and developing a large talented team (of circa 100) including legal, democratic, and governance professionals, delivering services that meet the highest standards of quality and efficiency. You will oversee the provision of legal advice on complex matters, manage the council’s democratic processes, and ensure compliance with statutory and constitutional requirements. Additionally, you will embrace innovation, exploring the use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance the council’s legal and governance functions and ensure Oxfordshire’s services remain fit for the future.

The successful candidate will be a qualified solicitor, barrister, or chartered legal executive with substantial post-qualification experience (with a current practising certificate) and a comprehensive understanding of the legal and governance framework within local government. You will have a proven track record of delivering strategic legal advice in a complex organisational environment, along with experience in managing democratic processes and supporting senior leaders in navigating challenging governance issues.

We are looking for a forward-thinking and collaborative leader who can combine legal and governance expertise with a progressive vision for service delivery. Your ability to lead and inspire teams, build strong relationships, and manage complexity will be critical. This is a demanding but highly rewarding role, offering the opportunity to make a lasting impact on Oxfordshire’s governance and legal services.

Together, we’re the moment makers and we’re focussed on making every day the best it can be for our residents. Whatever you do here, you’ll look around and say, “I make a difference”, because we’re all creating lasting change to people’s lives in Oxfordshire.

Every day, you’ll be challenged in a new way, supported by your team, in an organisation that is free thinking, flexible, and helps people achieve their ambitions. We’re not afraid to do things differently and our dynamic culture means this is a place where new ideas are embraced, and innovation thrives.

We believe that together, our differences make us stronger, and that diversity is the foundation for innovation. Here, you can create a unique career for yourself – while raising the bar for the future of UK public services.

Our Agile Working Policy ensures you enjoy flexible working arrangements, allowing you to balance your professional and personal life effectively operating on a hybrid model, based in Oxford.

If all of this excites you, then please speak to our recruitment partners at Hays.

Lottie Williams 0203 465 0141 / lottie.williams@hays.com

Oxfordshire County Council is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in employment, and we welcome applications from all members of the community.

We would particularly like to encourage applications from individuals from a multi-ethnic background, who are currently under-represented at a senior level within our organisation. At Oxfordshire, we strive to create a workplace that reflects our region, where everyone is valued and empowered to be themselves.