Job Title: Legal, Governance and Democracy Lead Specialist / Monitoring Officer
Location: Kendal, Cumbria
Salary: £47,546 – £50,494 + 10% of annual salary for the role of MO
Job Type: Full Time (37 hours per week) – Flexi-time Scheme, Permanent
Closing date: Monday 18th March 2019
The Council serves an area that includes two national parks, with the majority of the stunning Lake District National Park in the district, as well as western parts of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. With friendly communities, low crime rate, cultural attractions and excellent motorway and West Coast Mainline links to the North West; South Lakeland makes an attractive proposition for one and all.
As part of their transformation, their new operating model will see traditional roles working very differently. As such they are currently seeking to appoint a Legal, Governance and Democracy Lead Specialist that will strengthen the new Leadership Team
Main Responsibilities:
- Provide a professional service, with the highest possible standards of advice, to the Council’s operational, functional and political leadership, specialists, case managers and strategic partners
- Provide functional leadership of a team of multi-skilled, professional specialists, who solve problems, manage difficult complex and contentious cases, specify and manage projects that deliver community and corporate objectives and manage demand by working proactively with customers
- Ensure the effective operation of the elections team and provide support to the Returning Officer
- Exercise professional judgement in the resolution of complex cases and issues
- Work with the Section 151 Officer to ensure overall governance and compliance of the Council
- Ensure the Council’s compliance with statutory, regulatory, policy and constitutional requirements in respect of their specialist area
- Work collaboratively with Operational Leads to enable effective and efficient deployment and development of people as well as financial, digital, equipment and premises resources
- Work with other Lead Specialists and Operational Leads in developing Corporate Strategy and Policy, including the leadership of the development and implementation of specialist aspects of this
- Take responsibility for self-development in the areas of specialism that the role is responsible for
- Support Members and their development; ensuring the establishment and adherence to effective and transparent decision making processes
- Deliver relevant Council programmes allocated to them
- Work collaboratively across several specialist areas to enable the outcomes the Council seeks
- Demonstrate skills in understanding and navigating complexity and uncertainty, developing and delivering solutions to complex issues
- Establish, and maintain, the Council’s Constitution and governance, keeping the Council compliant with relevant legislation
The candidate:
- Educated to degree or equivalent level of extensive experience.
- Qualified Solicitor
- Membership of Law Society/Bar
- Thorough working knowledge of the working practices, methodologies, legislation and developments in your respective specialism
- An understanding and knowledge of how several specialist areas may collaborate to enable the outcomes the Council seeks
- Able to understand and navigate complexity and uncertainty, developing and delivering solutions to complex issues
- Significant experience of providing clear, visible and accountable leadership and the promotion of good communication
- Significant experience of developing and managing large budgets and financial resources
- Significant experience of promoting and developing an operational culture which is customer focussed as well as health and wellbeing aware
- Experience of representing organisations in a legal capacity with satisfactory results
- Experience of member development and a sound understanding of the political arena
Please click on the APPLY button where you will be redirected to the Council website to complete your application.
Candidates with experience of Legal Specialist, Legal Expert, Lawyer, Solicitor, Legal Compliance Officer, Governance Officer, Compliance Manager, Governance Manager, Compliance Officer, Governance Project Manager, Governance Specialist, may also be considered for this role.
