Interim Monitoring Officer (District Council)
Midlands District Council Interim Contract | 6-12 Months Initially Hybrid Working Available Competitive Day Rate
The Opportunity
A Midlands-based District Council is seeking an experienced Interim Monitoring Officer to provide statutory governance leadership and expert legal advice across the organisation during a key period of transformation and service delivery improvement.
This is a highly visible role, working closely with the Chief Executive, Leader of the Council, elected Members, Corporate Leadership Team, and external partners to ensure the Council maintains the highest standards of governance, transparency, and lawful decision-making.
Applications are particularly welcomed from candidates with direct District Council Monitoring Officer or Deputy Monitoring Officer experience. Given the unique governance, planning, housing, licensing and place-shaping responsibilities of District Councils, this experience is considered highly desirable and will be a significant advantage.
Key Responsibilities
- Fulfil the statutory duties of Monitoring Officer under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
- Provide strategic legal and governance advice to Members, the Chief Executive, and Senior Leadership Team.
- Ensure all Council activity is undertaken within the Council's constitutional and legal framework.
- Lead on standards, ethics, Member conduct, and governance matters.
- Support effective and lawful decision-making across Cabinet, Full Council, Committees, and Sub-Committees.
- Advise on matters relating to planning governance, licensing, housing, local taxation, regulatory services, and district council service delivery.
- Lead on constitutional reviews and governance improvement initiatives.
- Oversee complaints, standards investigations, Ombudsman enquiries, and governance-related audits.
- Work closely with the Section 151 Officer and Corporate Leadership Team to maintain robust corporate governance arrangements.
- Identify, assess and mitigate legal and governance risks across the organisation.
- Develop productive working relationships with elected Members, ensuring appropriate governance support and advice.
- Manage external legal support where required and oversee the delivery of specialist legal services.
Key Deliverables
- Effective discharge of all statutory Monitoring Officer responsibilities.
- Maintenance of a strong governance framework and positive governance culture.
- Provision of timely, practical and commercially aware legal advice.
- Effective management of governance and constitutional risks.
- Support for positive Member and officer relationships.
- Delivery of governance improvements and constitutional updates where required.
- Assurance that Council decisions are lawful, transparent and capable of withstanding external scrutiny.
Person Specification
Essential
- Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of CILEX.
- Significant experience within local government legal services.
- Previous experience operating as a Monitoring Officer, Deputy Monitoring Officer, or equivalent senior governance professional.
- Extensive knowledge of:
- Local Government Law
- Administrative and Public Law
- Standards and Member Conduct
- Constitutional and Governance Frameworks
- Committee and Decision-Making Processes
- Planning and Licensing Governance
- Information Governance
- Procurement and Contract Law
- Experience advising Chief Executives, Corporate Directors, and elected Members.
- Strong understanding of political environments and the ability to navigate sensitive governance issues.
- Proven ability to provide pragmatic, solution-focused advice while managing risk appropriately.
Highly Desirable
- Direct District Council experience as a Monitoring Officer or Deputy Monitoring Officer.
- Experience working within a District Council environment with responsibility for planning, development management, housing, licensing, regulatory services, and local taxation functions.
- Experience supporting organisational transformation, shared services, or local government reorganisation.
- Experience leading governance improvement programmes and constitutional reviews.
Key Competencies
- Outstanding governance and legal judgement.
- Political awareness and stakeholder management.
- Strategic leadership and influence.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to build credibility quickly with Members and senior officers.
- Collaborative and pragmatic approach.
- Strong risk management and decision-making capability.
- Resilience and confidence in handling complex and high-profile matters.
