Head of Legal Shared Service

Welcome

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in our new Head of Legal Shared Service. This is a unique opportunity to lead a critical team across two ambitious, forward looking Hertfordshire councils and take the next step in your career within Legal Services.

We see each other as natural neighbours with common interests geographically, economically and environmentally. By working together we will create a culture of collaboration and become stronger, and more influential, locally, regionally, and nationally.

One of the opportunities that has been identified for the two councils to embrace their shared vision and work together is legal services and we are fully committed to the delivery of a new joint legal service. This high profile role as the head of this service marks a pivotal point in both council’s innovation and transformation journeys.  It will be a key member of both council’s senior management teams, working successfully across both councils, delivering a high quality, seamless service to both organisations.

As the new Head of Legal Shared Services your initial primary focus will be the creation, design, transformation and implementation of a new shared legal services team. You will be leading the service providing a commercial focus, professional acumen and your expertise to create a high performing legal services team to support the delivery of both council’s visions and priorities. The partnership will have a combined team and cover a wide variety of work and legal disciplines across both councils.

Under the arrangement, each council would retain their own Monitoring Officer with St Albans as the Lead Authority for this partnership so they will be the employer for this important role.

We are looking for someone with leadership capability as well as the expertise to inspire and motivate the new combined team.  The role will have specific areas of responsibilities, which can be flexed to suit the needs of the organisations as they adapt to changing circumstances and drive to deliver more for their communities. You will be at the forefront of these ambitions as you deliver an excellent commercial legal service fit to face the future challenges facing both partners.

With experience of supporting a wide range of organisational change, stakeholder engagement and partnership working, you will be committed to excellent customer service as well as an outstanding legal professional. With good political awareness, you will excel at working closely with councillors and clients across both councils, balancing effective forward planning and prioritisation with ensuring agile responses when required.

We think this an exciting opportunity for the right person to make their mark in a new role that will work at the heart of two inspiring organisations.  If you believe you can offer the right mix of experience, influential leadership, drive and innovation during a time of transformational change and innovation, we very much look forward to hearing from you.