Assistant Director, Legal and Democracy and Monitoring Officer

Posting date:	04 March 2026
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	03 April 2026
Location:	SS14 1DL
Remote working:	Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week
Company:	Instajobs Limited
Job type:	Contract
Job reference:	SA-786-1046

Summary

Please note for all candidates - Let us know your salary expectations, along with availability to interview and start.

Job Overview

We have a very exciting interim opportunity for an Interim Assistant Director for a leading borough council. You’ll provide visible, strategic leadership across the Council’s Legal and Democratic Services, inspiring and managing high‑performing teams covering Legal, Committee and Electoral Services, as well as Information Governance.

Key Responsibilities

> To support the Strategic Director of Resources and Governance, in developing and delivering the corporate vision, value and priorities of the Council and the projects for which the post holder is responsible.
> To ensure the delivery of the council’s legal, democratic, strategic relationships, information governance and electoral services. To lead, direct and effectively manage high performing, customer focused services as well as develop and maintain robust partnerships to deliver positive outcomes that help to deliver the Council’s objectives.
> To focus on service improvement issues working under the direction of the Strategic Director of Resources and Governance, and in partnership with the Council’s chosen support partners on the service improvement journey and to lead on special projects to deliver service improvements and redesign, both on their own and within a team to enhance efficiency and to meet key performance indicators.
> To ensure that the council’s democratic and decision-making arrangements operate effectively in accordance with relevant legislation and the Council’s Constitution.
> To act in an appropriate role as appointed by the Returning Officer, ensuring that the election process runs smoothly and complies with all relevant legislation.
> To act as the Council's statutory Monitoring Officer in accordance with s5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
> To be responsible for the effective operation of the Members Code of Conduct including initial decision-making on complaints and to conduct investigations where appropriate. To provide advice, guidance and training on the Standards regime, Code of Conduct and Council Constitution.
> To be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the Council's Constitution, ensuring it is fit for purpose.
> To have responsibility for reporting on any claims of maladministration against the Council.
> To manage organisational talent by leading and inspiring individuals, ensuring that effective succession planning exists and building robust, resilient and measurable capacity and capability throughout the service areas and across the organisation.
> Maintain current and broad knowledge of all portfolio related topics in order to advise upon, develop and implement agreed policies, strategies and practices to enable delivery of effective council services and new ways of working.
> Deploy internal resources and co-ordinate and manage external service providers to provide a consistently reliable service for the day-to-day delivery of all Basildon Council’s community and health priorities, within agreed budgets.
> To ensure the Council achieves value for money for its legal and democratic services expenditure.
> To carry out efficient and effective performance and financial management ensuring that appropriate corrective action is taken promptly when necessary and that budgets are adhered to.
> To attend and provide professional guidance and advice to any relevant Committee, Sub-Committees and working parties and to be responsible for authoring committee reports, interpreting policies and preparing appraisals and recommendations as required.
> Deputise for the Strategic Director of Resources and Governance, as required.
> To lead the development, review and maintaining of effective information governance policies, procedures and arrangements across the organisation. Ensuring through the Data Protection Officer, that the Council complies with all relevant Data Protection legislation and requirements.
> Responsible as an Information Asset Owner for leading and fostering a culture that values, protects and uses information for the public good by actively managing the confidentiality, integrity and availability of all information assets within the service areas.
> Responsible for ensuring that the Council effectively fulfils its requirements associated with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 whilst providing advice to protect the Council and public’s interests, as appropriate. Undertake all the duties within the framework of Equal Opportunities.
> You must ensure full compliance with Health and Safety legislation and that Health and Safety matters are being managed on a day-to-day basis by your competent managers. You will also ensure you demonstrate you’re committed to Health and Safety by leading by example.
> Any other duties appropriate to the post: These other duties must be equivalent to or below the salary and status of the role and, where appropriate, under the Equality Act 2010, due consideration must be given to any employees with a “protected characteristic”.

What you will need to succeed

Education and Training

> Fully qualified solicitor (or barrister) with a current practice certificate.
> Membership of an appropriate professional body such as Lawyers in Local Government or equivalent.
> Evidence to support commitment towards continuing professional development.