Legal Services and Compliance Executive Director

BD Group; Essex; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading local authority trading company in the UK is seeking a Legal Services & Compliance Executive Director to provide strategic legal and compliance leadership. The role involves advising on corporate governance, risk management, and ensuring adherence to legal frameworks. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience, be a qualified legal professional, and have a proven track record in leading teams aligned with organizational values. This role offers a competitive package and hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Heart Hub rewards

Group Life Assurance

Private Medical Insurance

Pension Scheme

Paid Holidays

Health & wellbeing support

Access to independent mortgage advice

Career development

Inclusive and purpose-driven culture

Qualifications

• Substantial post-admission experience (typically around 10 years).
• Proven experience leading legal and compliance teams.
• Strong experience partnering with CEO and Executive Leadership Team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the legal, governance, and compliance agenda.
• Advise on legal matters and oversee policy implementation.
• Ensure compliance with legal frameworks and manage risks.

Skills

Legal leadership

Governance compliance

Risk management

GDPR knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Data-driven decision making

Education

Degree in Law or equivalent professional qualification

Qualified solicitor, barrister, or chartered legal executive

Job description

Join Our Team as a Legal Services & Compliance Executive Director!

BD Group is on an exciting transformation journey — and we’re looking for an exceptional Legal Services & Compliance Executive Director to help shape our future. This is a rare opportunity to lead the legal, governance, and compliance agenda for a purpose‑driven organisation delivering essential services to communities across London and the Southeast.

If you’re a strategic legal leader with a passion for integrity, governance excellence, and enabling safe, compliant, highiating operations, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership

• Providing authoritative legal and compliance advice to support effective decision‑making across the organisation.

• Leading corporate governance and supporting the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, Board, Audit, and Remuneration Committees.

• Shaping organisational risk appetite and advising on emerging risks and compliance issues.

• Championing ethical conduct, safeguarding, GDPR, information security, financial accountability, EDI, and health & safety.

• Driving continuous improvement, innovation, and efficiency in legal and governance practices.

• Overseeing fraud prevention measures to protect organisational integrity.

Operational Leadership

• Overseeing, with HR, the development and implementation of policies aligned with legal and sector standards.

• Acting as chief legal representative, advising on contracts, regulatory guidelines, and industry rules.

• Managing external legal advisors to ensure cost‑effective, high‑quality support.

• Leading legal claims and disputes to protect organisational interests.

• Establishing and maintaining legal and governance frameworkserministic.

• Embedding compliance and risk management into operational planning.

• Leading insurance and liability management to safeguard organisational assets.

• Ensuring business continuity planning and resilience measures are in place.

Legal Advice & Counsel

• Leading and improving the delivery of legal services across BD Group.

• Providing legal advice to the Board and committees.

• Interpreting committee powers and advising on decision‑making processes.

• Advising on new legislative requirements and supporting implementation.

• Providing expert guidance on data protection compliance and UK GDPR obligations.

Governance Frameworks

• Ensuring a robust corporate governance framework with high ethical standards.

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  Contributing to programme boards, shaping strategy, policy, and performance monitoring.

• Providing governance advice to ensure decisions adhere to legal and ethical principles.

• Overseeing the complaints process to ensure robust, fair outcomes.

• Leading or contributing to corporate projects and policy development.

• Promoting innovation, efficiency, and customer focus in governance delivery.

• Overseeing company secretariat functions and ensuring statutory compliance.

Performance & Risk Management

• Reporting compliance with legal, financial, and procurement frameworks.

• Monitoring regulatory compliance and escalating emerging risks.

• Overseeing audit processes to ensure transparency, accountability, and assurance.

What We’re Looking For:

Qualifications

• Degree in Law or equivalent professional qualification.

• εκ Qualified solicitor, barrister, or chartered legal executive with active professional membership (Law Society, Bar Council, CILEX).

• Substantial post‑admission experience (typically around 10 years) or equivalent professional capability.

Executive Leadership & Partnership

• Ability to support and deputise for the Chief Executive.

• Proven leadership of legal and governance teams aligned with organisational values.

• Strong experience partnering with the CEO, Board, and Executive Leadership Team.

• Commitment to transparent leadership, psychological safety, and a non‑blame culture.

• Deep understanding of safeguarding, GDPR, information security, health & safety, fraud prevention, and EDI.

• Ability to shape organisational risk appetite and advise on resilience and compliance obligations.

Operational Oversight & Infrastructure

• Experience leading multidisciplinary legal and compliance teams.

• Skilled in embedding governance frameworks in complex commercial or public‑sector environments.

• Ability to translate legislative and regulatory changes into practical policy and operational processes.

• Experience overseeing insurance, liability management, and business continuity planning.

Governance, Risk & Compliance Expertise

• Strong understanding of corporate governance and company secretariat functions.

• Experience managing complex legal matters, disputes, and high‑profile cases.

• Skilled in policy development, compliance frameworks, and lifecycle management.

• Experience overseeing organisational risks, safety‑critical operations, and fraud prevention.

• Strong audit oversight and regulatory monitoring experience.

Leadership, Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Proven leadership of legal, compliance, procurement, and governance teams.

• Ability to provide strategic direction on legal risk and regulatory compliance.

• Skilled in evaluating organisational performance and identifying areas of non‑compliance.

• Data‑driven decision‑maker with a focus on continuous improvement and resilience.

• Ability to inspire teams through organisational and regulatory change.

• Strong ambassadorial skills with regulators, partners, and internal stakeholders.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to influence at all levels.

• Experience working with regulators, auditors, trade unions, and external partners.

• Skilled at representing legal and compliance interests in corporate projects and external forums.

Working Arrangements

• Full‑time, permanent

• Hybrid working

• Senior leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Executive

About BD Group

BD Group is a dynamic Local Authority Trading Company (LATCO) wholly owned by the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham. We deliver essential facilities services including:

• Repairs and maintenance for 18, social homes

• Capital works programmes

• Cleaning and catering for over 40 schools

• 24/7 emergency repairs

• Facilities management

• Environmental services

Our mission blends commercial discipline with a strong public‑service ethos — reinvesting profits back into the community to create lasting social value.

Perksquest & Benefits

A competitive senior‑leadership package including:

❤ Heart Hub rewards, perks & benefits platform

❤ Group Life Assurance

❤ Private Medical Insurance

❤ Pension Scheme

❤ Paid Holidays

❤ Family‑friendly policies

❤ Health & wellbeing support including EAP

❤ Great offices & on‑site Café (with app discounts)

❤ Free parking at our head office – The Cube

❤ Access to independent mortgage advice

❤ Career development and leadership training

❤ A collaborative, inclusive, and purpose‑driven culture

To Apply

If you’re a strategic legal leader ready to shape governance, compliance, and organisational integrity at BD Group, we’d love to hear from you. Click ‘apply’ to submit your CV and outline your abdominal experience for this exceptional opportunity.