Director of Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer)
Chorley & South Ribble Councils
Salary up to £91,007
Chorley Council and South Ribble Borough Council serve a combined population of around 250,000 people and together are demonstrating what meaningful collaboration between local authorities can achieve. Both boroughs include a mix of urban centres, suburban communities, and rural landscapes. They are largely affluent areas with pockets of deprivation, where the councils play an important role in supporting inclusion and opportunities for all. Situated within Lancashire, both districts benefit from strong transport links to Manchester, Preston, Liverpool and regional airports, making them attractive and well-connected places to live, work, and invest in.
Each council has a distinct identity, vision, and set of priorities, but they share a common ambition to deliver excellent public services and positive outcomes for their residents.
Both councils are ambitious, confident and forward-thinking. They push boundaries, take on complex challenges and consistently punch above their weight, both independently and together.
The next few years will be shaped by Local Government Reorganisation across Lancashire, and Chorley and South Ribble are both committed to preparing proactively for this transition. Their shared-service arrangements, strong officer culture, and established partnership working place them in a strong position to influence and shape the future landscape.
THE ROLE
This is a pivotal and exciting moment for Chorley and South Ribble as both councils prepare for the next phase of transformation and for Local Government Reorganisation across Lancashire. The Director of Legal and Governance will play a central role in this work, strengthening the councils’ governance framework, ensuring robust decision-making, and supporting members and officers through a period of significant organisational change.
Working across both authorities, you will be the councils’ statutory Monitoring Officer and the principal source of legal and constitutional advice. You will provide clear, authoritative counsel to senior officers and elected members, ensuring the highest standards of conduct and embedding a culture of integrity, accountability and good governance. Your leadership will set the direction and drive the performance of a broad portfolio, including Legal Services, Elections, Democratic Services, Corporate Support, Mayoralty, Procurement, Internal Audit and Risk.
The LGR context gives this role a distinctive breadth and purpose. You will be at the heart of governance arrangements and decision-making related to reorganisation, working with colleagues from across the county to influence, coordinate and support the transition into new unitary structures. This is a rare career opportunity to broaden professional experience, lead complex constitutional work, and build a governance framework that will help shape the future of local government in Lancashire.
This opportunity offers cross-authority leadership, direct involvement in major structural change, and the chance to make a tangible impact on organisational effectiveness and democratic governance. This role represents a rare career opportunity to contribute meaningfully to LGR, developing experience that will support your progression as the new authorities take shape.
This is the right moment to join two forward-thinking councils, build high-performing services, and play a defining role in how governance evolves across Lancashire.
INFORMATION
For further details, please click on the role profile and useful links below, or for more information please contact Tim Farr on 07756 293292 or tim.farr@starfishsearch.com
ROLE PROFILE Shared Structure Chart Chief Executive Welcome LetterTimeline
Closing Date: Sunday 18th January 2026
Longlist Meeting: 19th January 2026
Preliminary Interviews (Teams): 22nd/23rd January 2026
Shortlist Meeting: 23rd January 2026
Assessment Centre: 28th/29th January 2026
Final Panel: w/c 2nd February 2026
Useful Links
How to apply
To make an application, please click on the apply now button below, with the following prepared:
- Your CV (no more than three sides of A4).
- A supporting statement (no more than three sides of A4) that sets out why you think this role is the right move for you and how you meet the knowledge and experience criteria.
If our client is a member of the Disability Confident Scheme and you would like to apply under the scheme, please state that clearly at the top of your supporting statement, along with any adjustments you require to be made if invited for interview.
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