Chief Lawyer – Contracts

Overview

In this role, you lead Brent Council’s Contracts Team to deliver high‑quality legal services on contracts, governance and procurement. You drive strategic direction, budget management and governance to support council objectives. You will provide expert advice to councillors and officers and act as a key contact for senior stakeholders. You’ll manage a team, oversee work quality and develop staff to sustain transformation and service improvement. This is an opportunity to shape procurement and contractual excellence in a dynamic borough.

Pay / Benefits

• Up to 33 days annual leave
• Excellent LGPS pension
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• Family-friendly policies
• Health and wellbeing support
• Eye test support and EAP

Responsibilities

• Actively lead the management of the Contracts department
• Provide high level, proactive legal advice on contracts, governance and procurement to the Council, its members and officers
• Oversee allocation of work to team members
• Monitor quality of work and performance across the team
• Manage a team of around 11, including training and development
• Provide strategic direction, planning management and governance to improve efficiency and success of the department and the Council

Key requirements

• Current practising certificate (Barrister, Solicitor or Legal Executive)
• Can‑do attitude with the confidence to lead a team
• Strong experience in contracts, governance and procurement
• Ability to anticipate problems and solve them
• Dependable and self‑reliant

• Leadership
• Proactive problem-solving
• Dependability
• Contracts
• Governance
• Procurement

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