Director of Governance

About the job

Salary: £100,874 - £106,919 a year plus £3,990 Car Benefit
Hours per week: As and when required
Contract type: Permanent

Luton Council is seeking an exceptional leader to take on the pivotal role of Director of Governance. This is a unique opportunity to join the Council’s senior leadership team and help shape the future of governance, legal services, and democratic engagement in Luton.

As the Council’s Monitoring Officer, you will hold one of the three statutory officer positions, working alongside the Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer to ensure the highest standards of legality, integrity, and transparency. You will lead the Council’s legal and democratic services, providing strategic direction and expert advice to elected members and senior officers. Your work will be instrumental in safeguarding the Council’s reputation, ensuring compliance with statutory obligations, and promoting ethical conduct across the organisation.

This role demands a visionary leader with substantial experience at a senior level in local government. You will be adept at interpreting complex legal frameworks, guiding constitutional processes, and managing high-performing teams. Your ability to influence, negotiate, and communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders will be key to your success.

Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.

About you

You will be responsible for overseeing the Council’s Constitution, advising on standards and conduct, managing investigations into potential maladministration, and ensuring robust governance arrangements. You will also lead the delivery of fair and compliant elections, support civic and ceremonial functions, and act as a strategic advisor on legal and ethical matters.

Luton is a borough with bold ambitions. Our vision for 2040 is to create a town where no one lives in poverty and everyone can thrive. As Director of Governance, you will play a central role in realising this vision, driving innovation, performance, and continuous improvement across your portfolio.

If you are ready to lead with integrity, inspire change, and make a lasting impact, we invite you to apply for this critical role.

About us

Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.

The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough

Application Process

To apply for this post, do not apply on this site - Please click here

For further information, please click the link to download a candidate briefing pack:

Candidate Briefing Pack

For a confidential conversation about this role, please contact our retained consultants at Penna:

Carol Coyle - 07500 887849 or email: carol.coyle@penna.com

Amin Aziz – 07709 514141 or email: amin.aziz@penna.com