Head of Legal

Information Commissioner's Office

. Provide expert legal advice across commercial contracts, procurement and internal compliance matters .

Posted 9/30/2026full-timeManchester • United KingdomLead💰 £72,146 - £81,952 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in contract law, procurement law, and data protection law, with a strong ability to provide strategic legal advice in a regulatory environment. Proven leadership in managing legal teams and delivering effective legal services while ensuring compliance with public sector regulations.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, Or Chartered Legal ExecutiveSubstantial Experience In Contract LawExperience In Procurement LawExperience In Data Protection LawSupervisory Experience Of Lawyers

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Contract DraftingContract NegotiationLegal ComplianceLegal Risk ManagementLegal AnalysisRegulatory AdvicePublic Procurement LawData Protection LawMOU PreparationPerformance Monitoring

Soft Skills

LeadershipStrategic ThinkingCommunicationNegotiationContinuous Improvement

Certifications & Qualifications

Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance

Industry Keywords

Public SectorRegulatory EnvironmentLegal Service DeliveryCorporate-Plan Legal ObjectivesStakeholder Engagement

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide expert legal advice across commercial contracts, procurement and internal compliance matters
Advise on contract and procurement law, leases and property matters, MOUs and data sharing
Advise on internal legal compliance, including information law, data protection and public procurement law
Manage and/or supervise complex and high-profile negotiations
Develop strategy and provide advice on novel and complex legal issues
Instruct external lawyers on key legal cases and legislative matters
Line manage, supervise, develop and review the performance of lawyers in the Legal team
Develop and implement strategies supporting corporate-plan legal objectives
Provide leadership to the Directorate and ensure effective legal service delivery
Establish and monitor key performance indicators for legal service delivery
Lead continuous improvement, commercial and regulatory initiatives
Represent the ICO at meetings and events, including occasional overseas travel
Participate in corporate initiatives, business planning and senior management
Identify legal risks and recommend improvements to legal risk management
Engage with media and external stakeholders on important legal issues
Independently manage a complex legal caseload and support strategic projects
Advise on policies, procedures and guidance
Prepare or deliver in-house training

Requirements

What you’ll need

Qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales
Appropriate equivalent professional qualification for applicants qualified outside England and Wales; may be required to undertake the Solicitors’ Qualifying Examinations or obtain an exemption
Substantial experience of contract law, including advising, drafting and negotiating contracts
Experience of procurement law and/or ability to quickly develop skills in this area
Experience of data protection law and public law and/or ability to quickly develop skills in this area
Experience of providing strategic legal advice in a regulatory environment and/or ability to quickly develop skills in this area
Experience of supervising other lawyers
Some experience of managing others and/or ability to quickly develop skills in this area
Experience of liaising with and instructing external lawyers and other organisations
Understanding of the regulatory environment and public sector generally, including the democratic, political and organisational framework of a regulator
Ability to draft, negotiate and advise on a range of contracts, procurement law queries and other commercial law matters
Excellent legal analytical skills
Ability to seek out, manage and influence opportunities for continuous improvement and change
Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance required
CV and cover letter required; cover letter no more than 1,000 words

Benefits

Comp & perks

Pay progression scheme
Hybrid and flexible working options
25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays
Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year)
Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%)
Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more
Health Cash Plan
Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress