£72,686 - £81,742 per annum

About the role
We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced local authority lawyer to join us and manage our Legal and Governance team. In this pivotal role, you will support the Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer in ensuring that the Council fulfils its legal obligations and statutory duties. The successful candidate will be a member of the Council’s Senior Leadership team and will be responsible for providing strategic and constitutional advice, manage the legal, democratic, elections and procurement teams, supporting the delivery of the Council’s objectives and promoting our values.
 
This post is politically restricted.
 
About you
You will be qualified to practice as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales and have a management qualification or equivalent experience, sound knowledge of local authority standing orders and of dealing with Member Code of Conduct complaints and of advising senior officers and members. You will have strong leadership and team management skills, excellent verbal and written communication abilities and the ability to think strategically and creatively. You will also have experience of conducting complex litigation including judicial reviews.
 
About us
Our recent Local Government Association Peer Challenge highlighted that ‘EDDC is a great place to work, with engaged staff and members’ and that’s certainly true! You will be part of a Gold Investors in People (IiP) organisation which works together with local people to create great value services and an outstanding community, economy and environment in which people want to live, work, visit and enjoy now, and for future generations.  And with our wide range of health and wellbeing benefits, our highly flexible and collaborative hybrid Worksmart working arrangements as well as our commitment to continuous learning and development, you can be confident of joining a dedicated community of colleagues who are Happy, Healthy and Here.

For more about working for East Devon District Council, visit https://eastdevon.gov.uk/careers/working-at-east-devon-district-council/
 
For an informal discussion, please contact Melanie Wellman, Director of Governance on 01395 571688 or email Melanie.wellman@eastdevon.gov.uk  

Closing date: 27 July 2025

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.