Contracts and Commercial Business Partner

Combination of home working and attendance at County Hall, Dorchester, and other specified venues

Make a difference by joining our forward-thinking legal service, working together as ‘one team’ to provide high quality legal advice for the benefit of Dorset’s residents and business communities.

What’s in it for you:

This is not a typical public sector legal service – we are busy, future-focused, proud of our professional expertise and high standards and confident in our advice. You’ll join a service which fosters a strong culture of support, respect, and integrity.

You will build your career in a modern, flexible, and inclusive organisation. Everyone who joins our service is supported to develop and expand their specialist knowledge and skills. You will be positively challenged with a varied caseload and be involved in interesting work from the outset.

Based in our beautiful county, you’ll find miles of stunning coastline and countryside to explore, with sport and activities, nightlife, and culture.  Our flexible and hybrid working arrangements support you to enjoy a healthier work-life balance and well-being, which extends into your family life through our family-friendly policies. The position is based at County Hall in Dorchester, with close access to shops and cafés in the attractive market town.

What you can expect to be doing:

You will join our established Legal Management team to support the Head of Legal Services in leading the service, the conduct of legal work and the guidance and training we provide to other Council services.

You will manage, lead and develop the well regarded Adult and Litigation team, undertaking varied and high-quality and complex work with like-minded and dedicated colleagues to support Dorset Council to make a difference.

You will be the lead expert on adult social care matters in the Court of Protection which involves conduct of the most complex cases; significant knowledge and experience is required of Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Mental Health Act 1983. Your work will involve written and verbal advice, guidance and training to your team and Adult Service colleagues and court representation. 

You will be responsible for oversight but not conduct of general litigation matters being carried out by the Litigation team which includes employment matters, education prosecutions, trading standards and environmental health and debt recovery. 

About you:

We are looking for applicants who are qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive, with significant post qualification experience and knowledge of court of protection work within a local authority legal department and management and leadership experience. 

You will need sound knowledge understanding and experience of local government law.   

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Grace Evans, Head of Legal Services on 01305 225021 or by email on [email protected].

This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed and a valid driving licence.

A generous relocation package is payable, of which up to £8,000 (of HMRC eligible elements) are free of tax. We can offer you help to move whether you are looking to buy or rent, depending on your circumstances.

Our package includes:

·        an initial advance of up to £2,500 payable when you start

·        help towards fees associated with buying/selling (up to £6,500)

·        an option to receive help towards your rent or mortgage in the first two years

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.