Chief Legal & Governance Officer

The West Midlands Combined Authority is entering one of the most significant periods of change in its development. As devolution accelerates and fiscal devolution develops, WMCA is taking on greater responsibilities, developing new models of delivery and operating across an increasingly complex network of organisations and regional partnerships. From bus franchising, housing and regeneration to skills, employment, police and fire functions, the decisions we make over the coming years will have a lasting impact on the West Midlands and help shape the future of devolution nationally. As Chief Legal Officer & Monitoring Officer, you will be at the centre of that journey: a trusted partner to the Mayor, Chief Executive, Members and senior leaders, an independent guardian of lawful, transparent and well-governed decision-making, and a member of WMCA's Executive Board.

This is much more than a traditional legal leadership role. As one of WMCA's most senior leaders, you will combine professional independence with collective corporate leadership, working as one Executive Board team to set direction, lead transformation and support long-term organisational sustainability and performance. You will help WMCA turn ambitious and complex ideas into practical, lawful and deliverable outcomes, bringing constructive challenge where needed alongside the innovation, collaboration and solutions-focused thinking to find a way forward. You will also help shape the future WMCA, its group model, governance, culture, resilience and capability as responsibilities transfer and new powers, funding arrangements and delivery models emerge. With a wider leadership role across the region's Monitoring Officer community, this is an opportunity to influence not only how WMCA operates, but how governance enables devolution across the West Midlands.

What you'll be doing.

• The Primary Role of Chief Legal & Governance Officer is to ensure the WMCA is taking decisions  in a safe and legal way, ensuring propriety, neutrality and exemplary governance in every element.
• Act as WMCA's statutory Monitoring Officer and Chief legal and governance adviser to the Mayor, Chief Executive, Members and senior officers. You will provide authoritative advice on legality, probity, constitutional and governance matters, bringing the independence and confidence to challenge when required while helping colleagues identify practical, lawful routes to achieving their ambitions.
• Play a full role as a member of the Executive Board, accountable to the Chief Executive for your portfolio and collectively responsible with Executive Board colleagues for organisational strategy, culture, resilience, workforce sustainability and performance. You will work across portfolios, bringing enterprise-wide leadership and helping the Board make coherent decisions for WMCA.
• Responsibility for effective accessible and impactful legal and governance resourcing to provide assurance across the Authority’s Wide portfolio.
• Provide strategic legal and governance leadership across WMCA's expanding responsibilities, including bus franchising, housing and development, investment, skills and employment, police and fire functions and the Mayoral Development Corporation. You will help shape the structures, governance arrangements and legal frameworks needed to support new powers, fiscal devolution, evolving funding and investment models, and new ways of delivering services.
• Lead complex change and transformation within the legal and governance function, developing an operating model that is fit for a larger, more integrated and more complex organisation. You will build capacity and capability, lead and develop senior professional teams, oversee significant legal risk and external legal support, and ensure governance, scrutiny, constitutional and assurance arrangements remain robust, proportionate and future-focused.
• Build strong relationships with constituent authorities, government, public bodies and regional partners, providing visible leadership and influence across the wider Monitoring Officer community. You will operate with credibility at Executive Board, regional and national level, helping to shape complex proposals, resolve difficult issues and embed effective governance across WMCA and its developing group structure.

What you'll bring.

• You will be a qualified legal professional with substantial senior-level public-sector experience and significant, direct experience of operating as a Monitoring Officer, or carrying equivalent statutory responsibilities, within a complex organisation.
• You will bring extensive knowledge of local government law and governance, including constitutions, scrutiny, ethical standards, decision-making, risk and the wider statutory responsibilities associated with the Monitoring Officer role, together with sound judgement on complex, sensitive and high-risk matters.
• You will be an experienced senior executive leader, able to operate effectively at Board level and contribute beyond your own professional portfolio to collective organisational strategy, culture, resilience and performance. You will bring the confidence to provide robust independent challenge while remaining a constructive, collaborative colleague.
• You will have a strong track record of leading complex change and transformation, build organisational capability and translate strategy into delivery in a complex public-sector environment. You will combine political awareness, personal gravitas and exceptional influencing skills to work successfully with the Mayor, Chief Executive, Members, government, regional partners and senior stakeholders.
• You will be a visible and inclusive leader of people, able to create high-performing teams and contribute to the wider leadership of WMCA's culture, organisational resilience and workforce sustainability through a period of significant change.

How to apply. 

Please note that all applications are being reviewed and managed by Tile Hill, our executive search partner. By clicking apply, you will be re-directed to Tile Hills website. If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact Mark Bearn.

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs). 
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days. 
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costco membership through the WMCA.   
• Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top-rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
• Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses. 

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA?

WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Our Values and Behaviours. 

Fostering an environment where people feel valued, included, supported, and proud to contribute to our region is important to us at the WMCA. Our behaviours are more than statements; they guide how we work, make decisions, and treat one another - they set the standards we hold ourselves to and the experience we want others to have.

• Collaborative - We work as one organisation. Together we build trust, connection and shared purpose across teams, partners and residents to create the biggest impact for our region.
• Driven - We are focused on outcomes. We perform at our best to unlock productivity and delivery, achieving the greatest regional impact. 
• Inclusive - We value difference. Creating an environment where people belong, and feel psychologically safe, so we can all thrive and shape a West Midlands built for everyone.
• Innovative - We are courageous. We embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo to continuously improve and shape the future of the West Midlands.