Head of Contracts and Commercial

Head of Contracts and Commercial

Legal Services – London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Salary: Competitive (Grade P)

Contract: Permanent, Full‑time
Working pattern: Hybrid / Flexible working
Location: Tower Hamlets Town Hall, Whitechapel

About Us

Tower Hamlets is one of London’s most diverse and fastest‑growing boroughs, home to globally recognised areas such as Canary Wharf, Whitechapel, Brick Lane, and the Olympic Legacy. With ambitious regeneration, housing, and infrastructure programmes, the Council’s work is high‑profile, fast‑paced, and impactful.

Legal Services at Tower Hamlets provide high‑quality, solution‑focused advice across the full range of the Council’s functions. This is an exciting opportunity to join the senior leadership of the service and play a key role in supporting the Council’s corporate priorities.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic legal professional to take up the role of Head of Contracts and Commercial.

Reporting to the Director of Governance and Legal Services (Monitoring Officer), you will lead and manage the Council’s Contracts and Commercial legal team, providing authoritative legal advice on complex and high‑value matters across the organisation.

The role includes:

• Leading and managing a specialist team delivering commercial contracts, procurement, , planning and commercial property legal services
• Providing strategic, high‑level legal advice to Members, senior officers, and key stakeholders
• Advising on a broad portfolio including commercial contracts, procurement, planning and property‑related contractual matters
• Acting as lead negotiator on complex and high‑risk matters
• Managing client relationships and service delivery standards across the Council
• Contributing to the strategic leadership and development of Legal Services
• Advising on complex governance issues
• Advising on member issues including attending committee meetings
• Deputising for the Divisional Director of Legal Services (Monitoring Officer) as required

You will play a central role in ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, value‑for‑money legal services that support the Council’s objectives and statutory responsibilities.

About You

You will be:

• A qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of CILEX with substantial post‑qualification experience
• An experienced leader with a strong background in one or more of the following areas: public procurement, contracts, commercial property or planning law, ideally within a local authority or complex public‑sector environment
• Confident in providing clear, pragmatic advice on high‑value and high‑risk matters
• Experienced in managing teams, budgets, and service delivery in a pressured environment
• Skilled in stakeholder management, negotiation, and strategic decision‑making
• Experience of advising on local authority decision making and governance issues

Experience of local government is highly desirable, but we welcome applicants with strong transferable experience from comparable environments.

What We Offer

• A senior leadership role with real influence and visibility
• Challenging, varied, and high‑profile legal work
• A supportive, collaborative, and professional legal service
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• A strong organisational commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
• LGPS pension

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your application via the Council’s recruitment portal.

Benefits

Tower Hamlets is a truly unique borough at the heart of London – a place where history and innovation sit side by side. From the docks and markets that shaped the East End to the global business hub of Canary Wharf, we are proud to be one of the most dynamic, diverse, and ambitious communities in the UK. We are also one of the fastest growing and youngest boroughs in the country, offering unrivalled opportunities to make a real difference to people’s lives. Our residents are energetic, creative, and resilient, and our council is committed to delivering the best possible services and opportunities for them.

Our award-winning new Town Hall in Whitechapel provides a modern, flexible workplace for our staff, right at the heart of the borough and directly opposite Whitechapel Tube and Elizabeth line station. It is more than just a workplace – it’s a hub for collaboration, innovation and community, designed to bring out the best in our people.

As an employer, we put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do. Our active Employee Network Groups celebrate and champion our workforce, helping to ensure that everyone feels a sense of belonging. Guided by our TOWER values – Together, Open, Willing, Excellent and Respect – we are building a positive, inclusive culture where colleagues can thrive.

At Tower Hamlets Council, you’ll find exciting challenges, supportive colleagues, and the chance to shape one of London’s most important and vibrant places. If you’re looking for a role where you can see the impact of your work every day, then Tower Hamlets is the place for you.