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Head of Legal, People Place & Regulation

Head of Legal, People Place & Regulation

Advert closes on 12 Apr 2026

Job ID:

7126

£72,031 - £77,783

Not Specified

Town Hall Extension, Albert Square, Manchester, M60 2LA

About The Role

Position Title: Head of Legal, People place & Regulation

Location: Manchester

Department: Legal Services

Salary: Grade SS1, £72,031 - £77,783

Working Hours: Monday to Friday

Contract Type: Permanent, Full Time - 35 hours per week

Closing Date: Sunday 12th April 2026

Interview: week commencing: 20th April 2026

Manchester is a city with momentum. We are ambitious, globally recognised and continually evolving—shaping a thriving, inclusive and well‑connected place for over half a million residents. To help us deliver on these ambitions, we are looking for an outstanding Head of Legal, People Place & Regulation to join one of the most dynamic and high‑profile local authority legal teams in the UK.

Why join Manchester Legal Services?

Our Legal and Democratic Services function is one of the largest in-house teams in the country. We operate a shared service with Salford City Council and deliver specialist work for Rochdale Borough Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority—putting you at the heart of England’s first and biggest devolved region. Our 240+ strong legal workforce is recognised for its professionalism, passion and commitment. Our lawyers work on complex, nationally significant initiatives that shape the lives of residents and visitors every day. This role offers a rare opportunity to lead across a broad, high-performing portfolio and contribute to some of the most exciting legal, policy and regeneration work happening anywhere in the UK.

About the role

As Head of Legal, People Place & Regulation, you will provide leadership across five specialist teams—Community, Employment, Housing & Neighbour Nuisance, Litigation, and Regulatory & Enforcement. Reporting to the Assistant Director, you will play a key role in operational leadership, deputising as required and ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, insightful and solutions‑focused legal services.

You will also take a lead on cross‑cutting legal initiatives, oversee risk and LEXCEL compliance, support income and performance management, and carry a personal caseload of complex and sensitive matters.

This is a pivotal leadership role in a fast-moving, politically dynamic environment where your work will influence major decisions and real‑world outcomes for Manchester, Salford and our wider partners.

About the Candidate

What we’re looking for

We’re seeking an exceptional legal leader—credible, collaborative and forward‑thinking. Someone who can bring people with them, inspire confidence, and deliver outstanding results across a large and varied portfolio.

You will bring:

Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive status (with litigation rights).
Significant experience managing complex legal work in a large, multifaceted organisation.
Proven ability to build strong, trusted client relationships, including on sensitive and high‑profile matters.
Demonstrable experience within at least two of the following areas; Community (Adult Social Care & Education), Employment, Housing, Litigation and Regulatory & Enforcement
Strong strategic thinking, political awareness and the ability to influence at senior level.
A track record of leading teams, driving performance, and delivering high‑quality legal outcomes.
Understanding of the wider national policy landscape for local government.

What we offer

You’ll join an accredited service that values innovation, professional development and flexible working. Benefits include:

Competitive salary with annual pay progression
Hybrid working
Local Government Pension Scheme
26 days’ annual leave (rising to 31 after five years)
24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
A wealth of additional staff benefits and development opportunities

Join us—and help shape the legal foundations of a world‑class city.

For a confidential discussion contact: [email protected] or 07922 386 432

To apply visit: Penna | Job Board | Head of Legal, People Place & Regulation

About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

We take time to listen and understand
We work together and trust each other
We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
A buzzing pension - You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
A Good Employment Charter member - We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
Current or former care leavers
Have a disability or long-term condition
Applicants who have successfully completed the GM Elevate Programme
Applicants who have successfully completed the Leadership or the LeadHership Pathway programmes.

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship. 

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
References: We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
Proof of Qualifications: Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
Driving Licence: If the role requires driving, we’ll need evidence of your valid driving licence.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

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