Principal Property Lawyer - Surrey (Local Authority role) Initial 3-6 month contract Hourly rate negotiable Full time role The person will be required to provide effective leadership to Legal Services as part of the senior management team, facilitate service transformation and organisational change and ensure good joint working with other services in the County Council and with partners in Surrey and beyond. The role will need to engage colleagues across the Council and motivate Legal Services staff to effect changes and achieve improvements in services and value for money. They will provide overall management to a defined group of legal staff across a range of legal areas to support the Council's objectives and priorities. They must be able to lead by example in modelling and embedding the council's values to help build a sustainable highly effective organisation and develop its reputation as a successful council delivering great value for Surrey residents. The role requires strong negotiating, influencing and management skills, credibility and integrity. The post holder must also have an up to date knowledge of local government issues and the political environment in which the Council operates. They must be able to communicate legal concepts and complex ideas quickly and effectively. The post holder will be expected meet and contribute to the thinking of judges, magistrates, the police, the Coroner and other Heads of Legal Services/Monitoring Officers when necessary, in order to assist the work of Legal Services and SCC. The post holder must, if required by the role, be available to work and attend proceedings and meetings at pre-arranged times (including out of core hours) and in locations away from their contractual base. If you have any questions about this role or wish to apply, please contact isobel@deekay.co.uk who will respond at the earliest convenience.