Contract type: Permanent Salary: £104,187 Hours per week: 36 Base location: Tameside One, Market Place, Ashton-Under-Lyne, OL6 6BH Reference number: DPT652 The Role The Assistant Director (Legal & Democratic Services) is the statutory Monitoring Officer for Tameside Council (Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989). The role is the chief legal adviser for the Council providing oversight of the most significant legal matters and advising the Elected Members, Chief Executive and Senior Officers. The aim of the role is to ensure the Council remains legally compliant and that decisions made are fair, lawful and always in the best interests of our residents. The role is responsible for the management and leadership of Legal Services and Democratic Services including the professional delivery of all elections. About You We are looking for a strategic leader with professional credibility and capability and proven leadership experience combined with expert and specialist knowledge of public sector legal, governance and democratic services. You will be solutions focussed when faced with often highly complex situations and able to provide simple and clear advice to ensure timely and effective decision making to further the priorities of Tameside and our residents. You will uphold the values of Support, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Value Diversity and Engage (STRIVE) in all that you do and act as a role model and exemplar for others through visible leadership across the organisation promoting a culture that allows our workforce to thrive. For this role we require a Solicitor with entitlement to a Practising Certificate or Barrister qualified to practise with detailed knowledge and application of public sector law and ability to discharge the statutory responsibilities of the Monitoring Officer with a positive determination and in a manner that enhances the overall reputation of the Council. About Us At Tameside, we are committed to ensuring all our Citizens lead long, fulfilling and healthy lives. We are committed to supporting economic growth, providing high quality health and care services, protecting our most vulnerable and creating strong and supportive, self-sufficient communities. We recognise that our people drive our success and enable the organisation to deliver on its vision, purpose and priorities, and that our people are our most important resource and asset. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours, and are at the heart of everything that we do; and we understand that how we do things is just as important as what we do. We pride ourselves on living by our STRIVE values of Support, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Value Diversity and Engage. Our values underpin our practice and behaviours and are at the heart of everything that we do. How we do things are just as important as what we do. Our employees’ skills, experience and knowledge are essential to our success along with their happiness, wellbeing, commitment, enthusiasm and motivation to be the best they can be. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. This position is subject to Standard Disclosure Procedures. This is a politically restricted post. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer sponsorship at this time. We are committed to developing a culture which respects individuals, appreciates difference and allows everyone regardless of background to reach their full potential. We are proud to be an accredited disability confident employer. Reasonable Adjustments will be considered in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to the Job Role Criteria. Closing date: 30 March 2025. Assessment date: Week commencing 21st April 2025.