Director of Governance

Chesterfield Borough Council is a place where people feel proud of the work they do and the difference they make. We are ambitious for our communities and clear about the impact we want to deliver. Our investment in strong, confident and value-led leadership ensures our council continues to deliver for our communities and thrive through change, including the transition toward Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). We are an organisation motivated by service, driven by improvement and grounded in a collegiate culture that puts people and communities first.

Our momentum is real. More than 2,000 new jobs created, over 500 new businesses established, major town centre regeneration well underway in Chesterfield and Staveley, improvements to Stephenson Memorial Hall, canal restoration progressing and the Derbyshire Rail Innovation Vehicle taking shape. Chesterfield is a borough that delivers, and we are strengthening our leadership team to shape the next chapter of our success.
  
About the role
This newly created role, which incorporates the Monitoring Officer functions, offers an exceptional opportunity to provide strategic leadership across a wide-ranging portfolio including legal services, democratic governance, elections and information assurance and data protection. You will work closely with our Chief Executive and elected Members, ensuring decision‑making is underpinned by integrity, transparency and enabling governance that supports the organisation to achieve its ambitions.

A key priority will be preparing the authority for LGR through strong, visible and values‑led leadership. Whilst contributing to the development of governance and constitutional arrangements for a new unitary authority, you will play a central role in continuing to ensure the Council’s current governance arrangements are robust, transparent and facilitative, ensuring decisions are sound, accountable and aligned with our commitment to serve our communities well.

This role also presents the opportunity to build stability and excellence within the service. You will lead and mentor a capable team across all disciplines within the Legal and Democratic Service, fostering a supportive, collegiate environment that encourages professional growth and consistently high standards.
  
About you
We are seeking a local government lawyer who understands the evolving role of local authorities and the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. You will bring a strong track record of enabling effective, transparent decision‑making and ensuring governance arrangements support both organisational integrity and ambition.

Success in this role will require excellent judgement, a collaborative leadership style and a commitment to constructive, values‑based governance. You will be able to demonstrate experience contributing to Corporate Leadership Teams, supporting elected Members and guiding colleagues through periods of change and transformation. Your ability to build trust, provide clear advice, and uphold the highest standards of integrity will be crucial as we work toward establishing a strong and principled constitution for the future Unitary authority.

Find out more at shapingchesterfield.co.uk or contact our retained advisors at Tile Hill for a confidential discussion.

• Bella Bennett – bella.bennett@tile-hill.co.uk – 07918 976494
• Anita Denton – anita.denton@tile-hill.co.uk – 07725 554802

Closing date for applications: Midnight, Monday 6th April
 
To apply:
To apply, please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV (three sides of A4 maximum), along with a supporting statement (three sides of A4 maximum) detailing your experience, and achievements and addressing the key criteria for the role set out on this site and using examples to demonstrate how you meet the requirements. Documents should be uploaded via our website, please include and upload the below information in two documents only. If you experience any issues whilst applying, please contact Abbie.Hamilton-grant@tile-hill.co.uk.

Applications should include:

• Full contact details;
• Names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees (we will ask your permission before contacting referees);
• Details of your notice period
• Notification of any dates when you are not available for an interview

At Tile Hill, we are committed to inclusion and accessibility. We champion and support all individuals to ensure everyone feels valued, listened to and motivated to get the very best out of each recruitment process and that processes are designed to meet the needs of individuals. If you have any specific requests and would like a confidential discussion with the Tile Hill team, then please email inclusion@tile-hill.co.uk.