Somerset Council - Head of Legal Services & Deputy Monitoring Officer

Salary: Up to £100k (includes a market supplement) 

Somerset Council is a place with real momentum. There’s a distinctive sense of possibility here. We are a young council still shaping its future, ambitious for its communities and committed to building a fairer, greener, more resilient Somerset. While we face the same financial and demand pressures seen across local government, we also benefit from a developing culture of improvement, strong partnerships and the combined strength and expertise of our predecessor councils. It’s a promise to our residents that we are determined to keep.

As Head of Legal Services and Deputy Monitoring Officer, you will sit at the heart of the organisation, helping to enable good decisions, strong governance and confident leadership at a time of continued transformation. This is a senior leadership role with real influence. You’ll be leading the modernisation of our legal service, shaping culture and ways of working, and providing trusted, pragmatic advice to members and senior officers across a complex and evolving council.

We are looking for a high-calibre legal professional who combines technical excellence with leadership credibility and emotional intelligence. You will be someone who can operate comfortably in a political environment, translate complex legal risk into clear and constructive advice, and bring a solutions-focused mindset to everything you do. Just as important, you will be a people-centred leader with an ability to inspire, develop and modernise a legal service that is proactive, collaborative and enabling, not risk-averse or siloed.

This is a rare opportunity for a brilliant legal brain with that extra spark – the ability to blend governance, commercial awareness and leadership into a compelling narrative that supports transformation and helps Somerset Council move forward with confidence.

For more information, please refer to the candidate pack linked below:

Somerset Council, Head of Legal Services & Deputy Monitoring Officer - Candidate Briefing Pack

To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our consultants at Penna:

• Kelly Ridley on 07709 5124515 or email: Kelly.ridley@penna.com
• James Miller on 07701 233159 or email: james.miller@penna.com
• Rachael Morris on 07840 711217 or email Rachael.morris@penna.com

Closing date: 23.59pm, Sunday 1st February 2026

Somerset Council is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

How to apply

• Click “Apply”
• Upload your CV under “Please select one of the options below.”
• Complete the short mandatory fields on the next page.
• Use ‘Add Attachments’ to upload your Supporting Statement and any other documents.
• Please ensure that the file name of your CV and supporting statement includes your full name.
• Ensure both CV and Supporting Statement are uploaded before submitting your application.
• If you have a long-term health condition or disability and would like your application to be considered in accordance with a Disability Confident Scheme, please email: execapplications@penna.com, to inform the Penna team.