Director of Legal & Governance (Monitoring Officer)

Location: North of England
Daily rate: circa. £1,000 per day
Contract: Interim

Venn Group is working with a Combined Authority in the North to recruit an experienced Director of Legal & Governance (Monitoring Officer).

This is an excellent opportunity for an established senior legal professional to take on a strategically important leadership position, overseeing legal services, governance and democratic functions within a complex and politically sensitive environment.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the Combined Authority’s strategic ambitions, ensuring robust governance arrangements and providing high-level legal advice to senior stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction across Legal Services and Democratic Services
• Undertake the statutory responsibilities of Monitoring Officer, ensuring effective governance and lawful decision-making
• Act as a trusted adviser to senior officers and elected members on complex legal, constitutional and governance matters
• Lead the development and implementation of effective governance frameworks, policies and procedures
• Provide strategic advice on the legal and governance implications of the Combined Authority’s priorities
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams, promoting high performance and continuous improvement
• Support the organisation in delivering its wider strategic objectives

The Ideal Candidate:

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive with significant post-qualification experience
• Previous experience operating as a Monitoring Officer or Deputy Monitoring Officer
• Strong understanding of local government law, governance and constitutional matters
• Experience of leading legal services within a politically sensitive public sector environment
• Understanding of the legal and governance frameworks applicable to Combined Authorities
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and leadership skills
• Ability to provide strategic advice and influence decision-making at the highest levels

This is an exciting opportunity to join a Combined Authority at a significant stage in its development, with the opportunity to influence its strategic direction and governance arrangements.

For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact Will Pardoe via wpardoe@venngroup.com.