Head of Governance and Legal

Job summary

Opportunity to use your proven experience of delivering successful governance and legal services to provide senior leadership to governance, corporate risk, strategy, policy development and legal across the organisation.

The Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS) provides independent, impartial and fair dispute support and resolution services for nearly 5 million households in England. Through resolving disputes effectively and promoting positive change across the social housing sector, we improve residents’ lives and landlords’ services.

Job description

As Head of Governance and Legal, as part of the Senior Leadership Team, and based within the Corporate Services and Finance Directorate, your remit will include:

· providing advice on effective legal and governance arrangements, corporate risk management, committee secretariat, policy and strategy development, and in particular, in translating the strategic direction into a forward plan for the executive;

· accountability for the performance of the Governance and Legal team, creating and embedding a culture of excellence and continuous improvement and in line with required standards;

· setting up legal capabilities within the organisation including the effective handling of any judicial reviews and acting as Company Secretary for the new legal entity once stood up;

· developing effective relationships and collaborations with external stakeholders, representing and advocating for HOS, in particular with the Ministry; and

· significantly contributing to the development of strategies, business continuity plans, processes and policies that drive continuous improvement across HOS, with particular responsibility for those relating to the Corporate Services and Finance function.

Person specification

Core requirements, which ideally will have been gained within the social housing, regulation and / or Ombudsman sectors, for this pivotal leadership role include:

· Qualified Company Secretary and/or degree and a track record of relevant CPD;

· Demonstrable experience of delivering successful governance and legal services at a senior level;

· A track record of successfully leading at a senior level, managing managers and ensuring staff development across your service area;

· Knowledge of company law, housing legislation and other relevant legislation

· Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the proven ability to influence and persuade internal and external stakeholders at all levels.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

If you’re looking for an opportunity to champion and drive continuous improvement across an increasingly influential and high-profile national organisation, it’s an exciting time to join us and to contribute your skills to making a difference for millions of households.

For further details, please click ‘apply’ and download the information pack.

PLEASE NOTE: Following unprecedented interest in our vacancies, we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date (close it early). The role will be closed to new applications immediately if / when we receive 120 applications or at the stated closing date – whichever occurs first. Applications after the role has closed cannot be accepted. We therefore strongly recommend applying as soon as possible.

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity. We have an environment that is inclusive and recognises the value of difference in the workplace.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Jonathan McIntyre - CJA Recruitment
• Email : cja@cjagroup.com

Recruitment team

• Email : cja@cjagroup.com

Attachments

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