Westmorland & Furness is one of England's newest unitary authorities, covering a stunning geography from Barrow-in-Furness to Penrith, taking in Kendal and the surrounding Lake District communities. With a new Chief Executive in post and a clear mandate to modernise the organisation, strengthen governance and deliver a major transformation programme, there is real energy and ambition across the council.

The Deputy Chief Legal Officer (Deputy Monitoring Officer) is a broad and high-profile role, working alongside the Chief Legal & Monitoring Officer to lead across Democratic Services, Elections, Member Support, Information Governance and Constitutional leadership. You will regularly deputise for the Monitoring Officer, providing authoritative advice to elected members and senior officers on governance, standards, conduct and decision-making.

"We’re looking for an exceptional Deputy Chief Legal Officer to help shape the future of our council - providing strategic legal leadership, supporting democratic decision-making, and helping us deliver the best outcomes for our communities. This is a senior role with real influence, real challenge, and real opportunity to make a difference."

Linda Jones, Chief Legal and Monitoring Officer

With joint mayoral elections and all-out local elections scheduled for 2027, there is important work to do in preparing the council's democratic processes, governance arrangements and member support. The council is also undertaking a significant transformation programme, and governance sits at the centre of ensuring it can deliver change safely and lawfully. This is a genuine ownership moment for someone ready to put their stamp on how law and governance work across a new and ambitious council.

If you are looking for a role where you can make a real impact, this is it. You will have the chance to establish yourself as a key leader at a formative point in the authority's development. For the right person, this is a superb opportunity.

As the Council operates a hybrid working model, the successful candidate will have the flexibility to work from home or from one of our offices. We promote an agile working culture that supports both high performance and employee wellbeing.
 

Closing date: 17 May 2026

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.