Service Director - Legal & Governance (Monitoring Officer)
Location: Shropshire (with flexible and hybrid working arrangements).
Grade: C4 £106,925 - £112,748 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Accountable to: Executive Management Team
Closing date: 8th March 2026
Interviews in person: 16th - 23rd of March
Shape the governance, integrity and democratic life of Shropshire
About the role
As a member of the Leadership Board, you will work collaboratively with elected Members, the Executive Team and partners to shape and deliver the Council's strategic priorities. You will translate the Council's vision and the Shropshire Plan into robust, compliant and future focused governance, legal and democratic arrangements.
This is a rare opportunity to operate at the most senior level of local government, combining statutory and regulatory responsibility with strategic leadership and organisational influence ensuring the Council operates lawfully, ethically and with strong assurance.
Specific Responsibilities - Legal & Governance
This role carries some of the most significant statutory duties within the Council. You will:
* Act as the Council's Monitoring Officer, ensuring that the authority, its Members and officers act lawfully and in accordance with the Constitution, with appropriate deputy arrangements in place.
* Serve as the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO), providing strategic leadership on information governance and ensuring strong, compliant information management across the organisation.
* Act as Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for RIPA, ensuring full compliance with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and associated statutory requirements.
* Fulfil the role of Corporate Complaints Monitoring Officer, ensuring the complaints process is accessible, fair, timely, learning focused and compliant with the LGSCO Complaint Handling Code.
* Act as the Designated Proper Officer for Registration Services, overseeing statutory responsibilities for births, deaths, marriages, civil partnerships and related functions.
* Act as Deputy Returning Officer and Deputy Electoral Registration Officer, supporting the effective delivery of local and national elections.
* Provide strategic oversight of key functions including Legal Services, Internal Audit, Information Governance, Democratic Services, Elections, Coroners and Registrars, and the Statutory Scrutiny Officer.
* Provide strategic leadership for information management, both digital and physical, aligned to national information governance standards.
* Lead the Council's approach to governance, assurance and organisational resilience, embedding best practice across all services.
* Manage Member code of conduct complaints and maintain strong, trusted relationships with elected Members.
About you
* A qualified solicitor or barrister with extensive senior leadership experience.
* Highly experienced in local government law, governance and constitutional matters, with credibility at the most senior levels.
* Confident advising Members and senior officers on complex, sensitive and high-risk issues.
* Passionate about strong governance, ethical leadership and public service.
* A collaborative, values led‑led leader who champions diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Why join Shropshire Council?
At Shropshire Council, we are committed to fostering a healthy, inclusive, and empowered workforce. You'll have the opportunity to shape the future of our organisation and make a real difference to the lives of our residents. We offer a competitive salary, generous annual leave, flexible working, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
How to Apply
For more information, please visit our
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