Head of Legal

Security Industry Authority; London; Hybrid; GBP 78,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

A government regulatory body in London is looking for a Head of Legal to provide expert legal advice, oversee litigation, and lead a high-performing legal team. The ideal candidate must be a qualified Solicitor or Barrister with a strong background in regulatory law. The position offers a competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, and a generous pension contribution.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Annual leave entitlement of 27.5 days

Access to training for qualifications

Discounts including Gymflex

Qualifications

• Qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive.
• Track record in UK regulatory law and managing teams.
• Strong judicial and regulatory knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice across all SIA legal functions.
• Oversee SIA's litigation portfolio, including prosecutions.
• Lead responses to whistleblowing matters.

Skills

Legal advice in regulatory context

Managing legal teams

Stakeholder management

Communication and influence

Education

Qualified Solicitor or Barrister

Job description

Security Industry Authority

Head of Legal

Reference number: 420477

Salary: £78,801 - £86,000. A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.

Job grade: Grade 6

Contract type: Permanent

Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time

Location: London

As the most senior legal advisor to the SIA on all aspects of its role as a prosecutory, regulatory, corporate and public body, and as a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), to:

• Take ownership of legal areas including SIA criminal prosecutions, regulatory appeals and challenges, judicial review and inquests, commercial contracts, data protection and corporate governance matters, and regulatory policy matters, facilitating delivery of proficient and proactive expert advice to inform organisational decision making and risk management at all levels.
• Lead on the handling of significant or high risk legal matters personally.
• Inspire the Legal Services Team at the SIA in their contribution to organisational objectives, enabling effective and efficient delivery of legal services to all clients.
• Act as professional lead for the Legal profession at the SIA, as the most senior legal professional in the organisation, building the required legal capability for the future.

Job description

• To provide expert and timely legal and policy advice across all the SIA legal functions to internal clients (and, where applicable, shared services clients) on relevant matters, including those that are complex, have significant legal, financial, commercialor confidence implications, or that may shape the future direction of the organisation. This includes providing risk based legal advice to the board, Chair, and Chief Executive, as well as senior decision makers. Ensure an effective system of legal risk reporting and monitoring is in place.
• To oversee the conduct and management of the SIA’s litigation portfolio including criminal prosecutions, proceeds of crime recovery, regulatory appeals, inquests, and judicial reviews, providing legal leadership on high profile and sensitive cases and ensuring high risk matters are handled soundly. This includes the management of supplier relationships and the instruction of external legal firms and external legal counsel carrying out work for the SIA (excluding employment law), ensuring value for money and that quality representation is secured.
• To ensure, through effective leadership and management of the team, the provision of high quality legal advice to SIA colleagues (and, where appropriate, to other organisations through agreed shared services arrangements).
• To horizon scan and provide advice on relevant UK legislation, regulations and case law that may impact the organisation’s statutory obligations and the wider private security industry, assessing and disseminating strategic impact analysis to the board and executive as necessary.
• To lead on the response to whistleblowing matters for the SIA, and supporting the relevant executive director and non-executive director in discharging their roles.
• To make an active corporate contribution as part of the SIA’s Senior Leadership Team to organisational projects and initiatives as required.

Person specification

• Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales and must hold a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales or have full exemption from the relevant professional regulatory body (either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board).Barristers and Solicitors qualified in a jurisdiction outside of England and Wales will be subject to the rules of the professional bodies and must have completed the Bar Transfer Test or Qualified Lawyer Transfer Scheme.
• If you have qualified through Cilex you must hold a “general qualification” within the meaning of s71(3)(c) Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. If CILEx applies to you and you are not sure of your eligibility can contact us in order to establish your eligibility for this role, which will be in line with other UK government legal roles of this nature.
• A strong track record of providing authoritative expert legal advice in a UK regulatory context, with significant practice experience in at least one of each of the following two areas:
  • criminal investigation or enforcement, civil litigation, public law or regulatory law (such as judicial reviews and/or regulatory appeals); participation in and/or responding to inquests and/or public inquiries.
  • commercial contracts; information law matters (such as data protection freedom of information, record management); corporate governance matters; regulatory policy matters.
• Significant senior management experience gained in a law firm or in house environment, with experience of leading well-respected, high -performing teams. Demonstrating inclusive leadership, with a demonstrable commitment to developing and nurturing a high performing, diverse, inclusive, and talented team that delivers results and innovates within their specialisms.
• The ability to deliver in a demanding environment at pace, exercising sound judgment and a high level of personal integrity in providing timely legal and policy advice and constructive challenge.
• An experienced communicator and influencer, with the ability to proactively manage a variety of stakeholders up to and including board level,to ensure good relationships are maintained and successful organisational outcomes achieved.
• Evidence of sound management of resources and budgets to achieve high performing, value for money service delivery.

Qualifications

Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales and must hold a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales or have full exemption from the relevant professional regulatory body (either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board). Barristers and Solicitors qualified in a jurisdiction outside of England and Wales will be subject to the rules of the professional bodies and must have completed the Bar Transfer Test or Qualified Lawyer Transfer Scheme.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £78,801, Security Industry Authority contributes £22,828 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A welcoming and innovative work environment.
• Continued support and development opportunities.
• Access to training for attainment of recognised qualifications.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Annual leave entitlement will be 27.5 days, rising by one additional day for every two years of service up to a maximum of 32.5 days.
• A variety of discounts including Gymflex.
• Civil Service Pension Scheme – Employee contribution between 4.60% and 7.35% and Employer contribution between 26.60% and 30.30%

Closing date: 29 August 2025.