Licensing manager

Halton is a vibrant local authority with a rich history and heritage, featuring two iconic bridges that connect communities across the River Mersey. Located in Cheshire, Halton boasts excellent transport links between Liverpool and Manchester, as well as close proximity to both Liverpool John Lennon and Manchester Airports.

Our progressive community strategy aims to bring about meaningful, long-term improvements that enhance lives. It’s an exciting time to join us as we develop new policies and transform the way people access services.

Our Team

Legal Services supports every area of the Council, providing expert advice across a broad range of legal and compliance matters. Within the department, our Licensing Team plays a vital role in protecting residents, visitors and businesses by ensuring that licensing laws are applied fairly, effectively and consistently.

We're looking for an experienced and proactive Licensing Manager to lead our Licensing Service and drive continuous improvement across this important function.

Hours: 37

Your Contributions

As Licensing Manager, you will lead a dedicated team of Licensing and Enforcement Officers, ensuring the effective delivery of all licensing functions falling within Legal Services.

You will work closely with other authorities to ensure that licensing legislation is complied with and play a key role in shaping and delivering a modern, compliant and customer‑focused service.

Key responsibilities

• Leading and developing the Licensing Service, managing team performance, supporting staff development and ensuring high‑quality service delivery across all licensing functions falling within Legal Services.
• Providing expert licensing advice and oversight, acting as the Council's lead specialist on complex licensing matters, legislative compliance and statutory responsibilities.
• Driving policy development and service improvement, reviewing and implementing licensing policies, modernising processes and supporting digital transformation initiatives.
• Managing enforcement and regulatory activity, overseeing inspections, investigations and compliance work while maintaining strong partnerships with agencies including Police, HMRC, the Home Office and the Gambling Commission.
• Supporting governance and decision‑making, preparing reports, presenting to Regulatory Committees and representing the Council at hearings, tribunals and court proceedings where required.
• Managing service performance and resources, including budgets, income streams, licensing fees, performance monitoring, data management and statutory reporting requirements.

It is essential for this post that you are able to be mobile around the borough and potentially further afield. You will be required to hold a full driving licence and have access to a car for business purposes.

Our Offer

Aside from working with a great team, our employees have access to a fantastic range of benefits, including:

• A generous annual holiday allowance starting at 34 days per year (including bank holidays), increasing with long service with the option to purchase an additional four‑days of unpaid leave for our Annual Christmas Closedown.
• Membership of our defined benefit, salary‑linked Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with generous employer contributions.
• 3 × Salary Life Cover via Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Investment in your personal development.
• Free Car Parking at HBC sites.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Extensive employee benefits platform including discounted shopping, car leasing, gym memberships, wellbeing hub and Employee Assistance Programme.
• Essential Car User allowance.

Next Steps

At Halton Borough Council, we want all of our candidates to feel well‑informed so if you would like to have an informal chat about this role, please contact Liz Wilson‑Lagan, Head of Legal Corporate and Governance at liz.wilson‑lagan@halton.gov.uk.

This role closes on Sunday 28th June, however applications will be reviewed as they are received and interviews may take place before the closing date. We therefore encourage early applications.

At Halton Borough Council we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce and a vital part of this is to encourage diversity in all respects. We are committed to making our recruitment practices barrier‑free and tailored to best suit the needs and strength of the individual. This includes making adjustments for people with a disability, neurodiversity or with long‑term health conditions. If you require accommodations, please reach out during the recruitment process so that we can make this the best possible experience for you – resourcing@halton.gov.uk.

Please refer to the attached Job Profile for further information about the role and our values.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applications. If you’re interested, please complete your application as early as possible.

We look forward to receiving your application!