Sellick Partnership
Director of Legal Services
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Service Director - Law, Democratic and Member Service (Monitoring Officer)
Barnsley Council
£111,254 per annum
Permanent
Overview of the Service Director - Law, Democratic and Member Service (Monitoring Officer)
Sellick Partnership is delighted to be working with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council to recruit to a key post within their leadership team. This role will lead the Legal Services, Democratic and Member Services, Data Protection and Complaints and act as the Monitoring Officer for the authority. The postholder will deliver high-quality decision-making support within the senior management team for the authority. They will provide professional advice to elected members and officers and ensure that all governance processes comply with statutory requirements and best practice.
Key responsibilities of the Service Director - Law, Democratic and Member Service (Monitoring Officer)
- Line management: Legal Services, Democratic and Member services, Complaints and Data Protection.
- To play a key role in the Senior Management Team to ensure that strategic and local objectives are achieved within the Council portfolio.
- Lead on and develop key corporate reviews and council wide/cross departmental strategies, projects and policies.
- To be accountable for the financial performance of the service area. Ensure compliance with all legal, statutory requirements, standing orders, financial regulations of the Council and all appropriate areas as documented in the accountability framework.
- To ensure that performance and development reviews are undertaken by managers to develop high performing teams and that promote a positive organisational culture whereby employee skills and knowledge are enhanced to provide an effective customer focused service working to achieve strategic aims and objectives.
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General duties of the Service Director - Law, Democratic and Member Service (Monitoring Officer)
- Supporting the Executive Director - Core Services in ensuring compliance with the regulatory requirements of the Solicitor's Regulation Authority.
- Providing effective and transformational leadership in the delivery of complex service areas, including legal services, governance, elections and registration services this role ensures the council's vision, priorities and values are actively promoted and delivered in line with our Council Plan.
- Acting as the Councils Deputy Returning Officer and the Councils DPO.
- Ensuring the provision of high-level legal advice and undertaking related legal work across the areas set out below including advice to senior managers and elected members. This will include:
- Instructing Counsel or external solicitors firms where additional specialist expertise or capacity is required, managing the relationship and related resources in engaging with such providers and ensuring effective liaison between them and the relevant business unit.
- Undertaking high-level legal research.
- Drafting complex documents.
- Keeping up-to-date and disseminating within the organisation new developments in the law.
- Undertaking high level negotiation and mediation.
Qualifications/experience:
- Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Legal Executive with extensive experience in a similar role.
- Certificate to Practice.
- Evidence of continuing professional development in governance.
- Understanding of the corporate and political workings of a council.
- Significant experience as a Deputy Monitoring Officer or Monitoring Officer.
- Strong understanding of legislation affecting local government decision-making.
- Excellent leadership and managerial skills.
- Ability to influence, empower and motivate employees in the attainment of service and organisational goals.
- Understanding the legal, financial and political workings of local government and current best practice on tackling the kind of challenges that face local government services.
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Benefits of the Service Director - Law, Democratic and Member Service (Monitoring Officer)
- Competitive salary.
- Excellent pension scheme, up to 16.8% employer contribution.
- 31 days of annual leave, increasing with length of service and an additional 5 discretionary days used for Christmas shutdown etc.
- Salary sacrifice scheme for extra annual leave, cycle to work, car leases, home electronics and childcare vouchers.
- Discounts on car parking, rail travel, eating out, leisure attractions and gym memberships.
- Family friendly policies including; excellent maternity, paternity and adoption entitlements.
How to apply for the Service Director - Law, Democratic and Member Service (Monitoring Officer)
If you feel you have the right experience and would like to apply, please submit your application now. For a confidential discussion about the role or to find out more about working at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, contact Sara Robinson at Sellick Partnership.
Closing date: 11:59pm on Sunday 23 August 2026.
Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances. Please note, our advertisements use years' experience, hourly rates, and salary levels purely as a guide and we assess applications based on the experience and skills evidenced on the CV. For information on how your personal details may be used by Sellick Partnership, please review our data processing notice on our website.
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