Head of Legal & Governance (Monitoring Officer)

Elmbridge is a vibrant borough, celebrated for its green spaces, bustling high streets and welcoming villages. At Elmbridge Borough Council, we hold a deep sense of responsibility to our community, placing our residents at the heart of everything we do.

We are committed to building a sustainable and flourishing Elmbridge, driven by the strength and energy of our people. To help us achieve this, we are seeking an exceptional Head of Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer) to join our leadership team. This is a pivotal role, offering the opportunity to shape the future of our legal service during a time of significant transformation and change.
 

About the role
As Head of Legal and Governance, you will lead our Legal Services with vision and purpose, guiding Elected Members and officers with expert advice and enabling the council to deliver on its priorities and ambitions. You will join a Corporate Management Board that values openness, transparency and mutual respect, and in doing so you will hold a highly regarded position, trusted by colleagues and Members alike. Recognising the importance of robust governance, you will also play an active role in statutory officer meetings, ensuring good practice and strong governance are embedded throughout the organisation.

Your leadership will be key to driving the success of Legal, Procurement, Democratic Services and Elections, as well as fulfilling the duties of Deputy Returning Officer. Each of these teams has a strong professional foundation, but there is considerable scope to introduce innovation, champion best practice and modernise working methods, preparing us to perform at our best and to meet the challenges of Local Government Reorganisation with confidence.
 

About you
We are looking for a qualified Solicitor or Barrister with proven local government experience, someone who understands the complexities of the sector and the critical role of the Monitoring Officer. You will bring a track record of working closely with Elected Members, demonstrating calm and positive leadership in times of uncertainty and change. Your ability to balance strategic oversight with operational delivery will be key to ensuring excellent outcomes for colleagues, residents and the council. Above all, you will bring integrity, expertise and ambition, with the drive to make a lasting impact on Elmbridge and its community.

For more information, please visit www.recruitment-elmbridge.co.uk. For a confidential discussion, please contact our retained advisors at Tile Hill: Bella Bennett (bella.bennett@tile-hill.co.uk, 07918 679494) or Dylan Craven (dylan.craven@tile-hill.co.uk, 07442 408861)
 

Closing date: Monday 24th November
 

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 ella.vanderhook@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 current salary and 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.