Legal Operations Manager

Overview

We have a fantastic opportunity for a Legal Operations Manager to join our in-house Legal Service at Buckinghamshire Council.

Are you committed to making a difference? Do you want the work you do to have a real impact for local people, communities and businesses? Are you looking for a senior role where you can help shape how a large, busy in-house legal service operates, develops and delivers value?

This is an opportunity to work at the heart of Legal Services, supporting the Chief Legal Officer and Legal Leadership Team to ensure the service has the right operational foundations to deliver high-quality, timely and cost-effective legal support across the Council.

You will lead and develop the operational, non-lawyer functions that support Legal Services. You will use insight and practical operational expertise to improve how the service works and to support a modern, resilient and forward-thinking Legal Service.

About us

Legal Services is at the heart of the organisation and provides a fast-paced and rewarding career in a supportive environment. We work collaboratively to offer proactive, innovative and customer-focused advice to the Council.

Career development is something we are passionate about; we are committed to building an exceptional in-house Legal Service, utilising our colleagues talent and making the most of what they have to offer.

This is an exciting time to join us, as we continue to grow and develop our service. The recently redesigned in-house legal service is expanding to support the varied work of this diverse authority and to provide a wider range of in-house specialism.

Please click here to find out further information on our Legal Services: Buckinghamshire Legal Services

If that’s not enough reason to join us, you will be entitled to a range of benefits from Buckinghamshire Council including a very competitive employer pension contribution, generous annual leave allowance and discounts in a range of services and restaurants.

Buckinghamshire Council is a unitary authority, created on 1 April 2020, bringing together the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.

About the role

As Legal Operations Manager, you will support the Chief Legal Officer to operate a legal service which is efficient, consistent and cost-effective through the effective use and deployment of processes, systems, data, resources and governance.

This is a senior operational leadership role within Legal Services. You will have management responsibility for the service’s non-lawyer functions and will help ensure that the corporate, procedural, budgetary and administrative demands on the service are managed well.

You will oversee the Legal Operations function, including practice management, finance, legal support arrangements, Education Appeals and Land Charges. You will also play a central role in the development of Legal Operations Hubs, ensuring that paralegal and legal assistant resources are organised, developed and deployed effectively to support the delivery of legal services.

Working closely with senior leaders, Heads of Legal, Team Leaders and client services, you will act as a trusted strategic partner. You will use data, insight and commercial thinking to understand demand, identify pressures, improve performance and support better decision-making.

A key part of the role will be to identify and deliver practical improvements. This may include improving systems and workflows, developing templates and guidance, strengthening reporting, supporting automation and digital working, and helping the service to manage demand in a clear and consistent way.

This is a highly varied role which combines operational leadership, stakeholder engagement, performance improvement, project delivery, service development and strategic problem-solving. It offers the opportunity to make a visible impact on how Legal Services works and how it supports the wider Council.

Key responsibilities will include:

• leading and developing the Legal Operations function so that required outcomes and standards are delivered;
• managing the non-lawyer functions within Legal Services, including operational, administrative, finance and business support arrangements;
• supporting service planning, governance, performance management, budget monitoring and compliance requirements;
• using data and performance information to identify demand, capacity, risk and opportunities for service improvement;
• supporting the development and effective operation of Legal Operations Hubs;
• driving innovation, automation and improved digital ways of working across Legal Services;
• strengthening relationships with internal clients and stakeholders and supporting practical solutions to business challenges;
• supporting a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement and high performance.

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

We are looking for a highly motivated, organised and commercially minded professional with experience of leading operational activity in a complex environment.

You may come from a legal operations, practice management, business management, transformation, performance, finance, project management or service improvement background. A legal qualification is not essential, but you will need to understand how effective operational support enables professional services to deliver well.

You will bring strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to work confidently with senior colleagues, legal professionals and service areas. You will be comfortable using data and evidence to understand service pressures, identify opportunities and make practical recommendations.

You will be able to translate complex information into clear actions, manage competing priorities and deliver improvement in a busy professional environment. You will also need to be confident challenging established ways of working constructively and collaboratively, with a focus on better outcomes for the Council and the communities it serves.

This role would suit someone who is energised by solving complex operational challenges, improving how services work and helping people deliver their best. Whether your background is in legal services, business partnering, transformation, performance management, finance, data analytics or operational leadership, this role offers a platform to broaden your experience and help shape a modern, resilient and forward-thinking Legal Service.

Please see the attached job summary for further information on this role and person specification.

Other information

Number of positions available: 1

Closing date: Thursday 10th September 2026

Interview date: TBC

Interview-type / process: In person

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Lyndsey Cox on (01296) 387124 or [email protected]

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

a fair and inclusive culture

• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

 

About the Business Unit

The Assistant Chief Executive directorate is central to Buckinghamshire Council’s journey to establish itself as one of the best councils in the country. With a clear focus on service improvement through transformation and a drive to build better relationships with the local community, the directorate is fast-paced; but extremely rewarding. Our teams are not only proactively delivering on projects and plans but also reacting to developing situations. If you are ambitious, innovative, and would relish the opportunity to influence change - a role within our service area could be your next career move.

The team includes exciting areas of work, including our Policy and Communications, Legal and Democratic Services teams – innovating the way we communicate with our colleagues, Members and the local community, and role-modelling best practice through policy, planning and legal services. If you think you can help us achieve our goals, and want to be a part of this exciting journey, we would love to hear from you!

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/