CFRS0159 - HEAD OF LEGAL
Posted 18 hours 53 minutes ago by Cumbriafire
Permanent
Not Specified
Public Sector Jobs
Cumbria, Penrith, United Kingdom, CA102
Job Description
Interviews: Interviews will be held in-person at Fire Headquarters on Tuesday 20th May 2025.
Location: Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Carleton Hall, Penrith.
Contractual Hours: 37 hours. We will offer this role on a fulltime or part-time basis, this can be discussed at interview.
Contract: Permanent
On 1st April 2023, the Police & Crime Commissioner legally became Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC), as responsibility for the governance of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) transferred to him following Local Government Reform in Cumbria.
The PFCC now occupies two separate legal entities: The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria (in relation to policing) and the Cumbria Commissioner Fire & Rescue Authority (the Fire & Rescue Authority) for the Fire & Rescue Service.
To help the PFCC fulfil his statutory and regulatory responsibilities across both legal entities, he is supported by the Office of Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner (OPFCC).
The OPFCC has created a new role of Head of Legal to provide a comprehensive legal service to the Fire & Rescue Authority, CFRS and the OPFCC across a broad range and variety of legal work. Reporting to the Chief Executive of the OPFCC and the Chief Fire Officer CFRS, this influential role is an exciting and varied opportunity for a senior legal professional. The post holder will ensure the Fire & Rescue Authority, Fire & Rescue Service and the OPFCC all receive the expert legal advice and support that they require to act lawfully and fulfil their statutory obligations.
To apply for this role you must be a qualified solicitor, hold a current practicing certificate, and possess detailed knowledge across an array of legal disciplines that are relevant to be able to carry out the functions and responsibilities of the role. The successful candidate must have an understanding of public sector statutory and regulatory framework as well as have a strong political awareness.
We are seeking to appoint a high calibre individual with a proven record of working at a senior strategic level. You must have experience of effectively working across professional and organisational boundaries and in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders.
The successful candidate will also be responsible for working with the Legal Services team (provided by Cumbria Constabulary) to ensure that the OPFCC receives the advice and support on relevant legal matters.
As well as being an excellent communicator and having a commitment to all aspects of diversity and inclusion, we are seeking an individual with sound judgement and high levels of integrity. You must have the ability to assimilate and explain complex information, providing constructive challenge and fresh thinking.
Whilst the role at times will be demanding and require work which needs to be delivered quickly, sometimes at short notice, we will work to ensure that you are able to achieve the right work-life balance. Alongside a competitive salary, we actively support work-life balance through the provision of a generous flexible working scheme. In addition, a comprehensive package of employee benefits is available including:
Informal Discussion For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Paula Zutic on or email to arrange a telephone call with the Chief Executive of the OPFCC.
TO APPLY To apply for this role, you must submit:
Knowledge, Experience and Expertise
This role requires a Standard DBS check.
OUR SERVICE
With approximately 600 operational firefighters, front facing delivery teams, corporate services, and support staff, delivering services across the county from 38 Fire Stations, we know we need to be a modern, flexible, and inclusive employer.
In addition to the benefits already highlighted, we offer:
We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our communities in Cumbria. We actively encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.
We capture Equality data on our application forms to help us review barriers in our processes for any minority group. This is optional to complete and is securely removed and accessed only by the Resourcing team to review.
CFRS has a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for those whose most recent employer is the Armed Forces, for Care Leavers, and for Disabled Candidates. The scheme is linked below and there is a specific section of our application form where you can mark if you consider yourself eligible. We encourage candidates to let us know so we can provide the best support and access throughout the process.
Reasonable Adjustments We strongly encourage any candidate who may require reasonable adjustments to make us aware as soon as possible, either using the section on the application form or by contacting the Resourcing Team directly (email below). We will have a confidential discussion with you and we take the approach of 'you tell us what you require . click apply for full job details
Location: Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Carleton Hall, Penrith.
Contractual Hours: 37 hours. We will offer this role on a fulltime or part-time basis, this can be discussed at interview.
Contract: Permanent
On 1st April 2023, the Police & Crime Commissioner legally became Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC), as responsibility for the governance of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) transferred to him following Local Government Reform in Cumbria.
The PFCC now occupies two separate legal entities: The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria (in relation to policing) and the Cumbria Commissioner Fire & Rescue Authority (the Fire & Rescue Authority) for the Fire & Rescue Service.
To help the PFCC fulfil his statutory and regulatory responsibilities across both legal entities, he is supported by the Office of Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner (OPFCC).
The OPFCC has created a new role of Head of Legal to provide a comprehensive legal service to the Fire & Rescue Authority, CFRS and the OPFCC across a broad range and variety of legal work. Reporting to the Chief Executive of the OPFCC and the Chief Fire Officer CFRS, this influential role is an exciting and varied opportunity for a senior legal professional. The post holder will ensure the Fire & Rescue Authority, Fire & Rescue Service and the OPFCC all receive the expert legal advice and support that they require to act lawfully and fulfil their statutory obligations.
To apply for this role you must be a qualified solicitor, hold a current practicing certificate, and possess detailed knowledge across an array of legal disciplines that are relevant to be able to carry out the functions and responsibilities of the role. The successful candidate must have an understanding of public sector statutory and regulatory framework as well as have a strong political awareness.
We are seeking to appoint a high calibre individual with a proven record of working at a senior strategic level. You must have experience of effectively working across professional and organisational boundaries and in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders.
The successful candidate will also be responsible for working with the Legal Services team (provided by Cumbria Constabulary) to ensure that the OPFCC receives the advice and support on relevant legal matters.
As well as being an excellent communicator and having a commitment to all aspects of diversity and inclusion, we are seeking an individual with sound judgement and high levels of integrity. You must have the ability to assimilate and explain complex information, providing constructive challenge and fresh thinking.
Whilst the role at times will be demanding and require work which needs to be delivered quickly, sometimes at short notice, we will work to ensure that you are able to achieve the right work-life balance. Alongside a competitive salary, we actively support work-life balance through the provision of a generous flexible working scheme. In addition, a comprehensive package of employee benefits is available including:
- Access to the local Government pension scheme
- Generous annual leave entitlements.
- Salary sacrifice leased car scheme.
- Salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.
- Salary sacrifice additional voluntary contribution (pension) scheme.
Informal Discussion For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Paula Zutic on or email to arrange a telephone call with the Chief Executive of the OPFCC.
TO APPLY To apply for this role, you must submit:
- An up-to-date CV, please ensure that it provides all your employment details to enable the shortlisting panel to understand how you meet the Post Specification (linked below).
- All candidates must provide a supporting statement, alongside your CV to be considered by the shortlisting panel. This must be a maximum of two sides A4 (we advise Arial font, size 12).
- You should ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet and satisfy all the essential criteria for this post as detailed within the Post Specification (Job description).
- Where you feel that you can demonstrate any of the key job accountabilities, this should also be included. This information should be provided preferably through examples of your previous experience or practice and will be used as part of the shortlisting process.
Knowledge, Experience and Expertise
- Practising Solicitor or Barrister. Please include your SRA ID number.
- Proven experience of working across a broad range of legal law matters that are relevant to be able to carry out the functions and responsibilities of the role.
- Experience of operating at a senior level within an organisation, e.g., involvement in policy making and decision making.
- Substantial experience of researching and interpreting complex areas of law and then providing pragmatic advice/guidance.
- Able to communicate and present information effectively, orally and in writing to suit a range of different audiences.
- Resilience and ability to deliver when working to competing deadlines.
- Ability to present cases in courts/tribunals.
- Politically astute in a rapidly changing environment.
- Experience of commissioning and managing services delivered by external providers.
- Educated to degree level in law or a relevant subject or Graduate member of CILEX (or a demonstrable competence together with a willingness to undertake such training).
- Successfully passed Law Society Finals or Legal Practice Course or equivalent or Bar Vocational Course Examinations, and either (1) a period of recognised training (or equivalent), (2) pupillage; or met all of the necessary Chartered Institute of Legal Executive worked based learning outcomes and completed at least 3 years in qualifying employment required to become a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (or a demonstrable competence together with a willingness to undertake this training).
- Qualified Solicitor holding a current practising certificate or Qualified Barrister or Qualified Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives holding a current practising certificate (or demonstrable competence together with a willingness to undertake relevant training).
This role requires a Standard DBS check.
OUR SERVICE
With approximately 600 operational firefighters, front facing delivery teams, corporate services, and support staff, delivering services across the county from 38 Fire Stations, we know we need to be a modern, flexible, and inclusive employer.
In addition to the benefits already highlighted, we offer:
- Flexible working across the county, including a hybrid of homeworking and office working at one of our Wholetime stations
- Free parking at our fire stations
- Access to station gyms, free of charge
- Occupational Health service, including counselling
- Close working relationship with the Firefighters Charity, including mental and physical health support
- On-going personal development, including apprenticeship options and leadership courses
- Access to modern ICT equipment
- Family friendly policies, including 45 weeks full pay for Parental Leave
- Menopause Policy - link here (Word document)
- Support for Carers
- Workplace adjustments for Neurodiverse and Disabled employees
- Staff Networks for a variety of different communities, including (but not limited to) Armed Forces, LGBTQ+, Menopause, Retirees
We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our communities in Cumbria. We actively encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.
We capture Equality data on our application forms to help us review barriers in our processes for any minority group. This is optional to complete and is securely removed and accessed only by the Resourcing team to review.
CFRS has a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for those whose most recent employer is the Armed Forces, for Care Leavers, and for Disabled Candidates. The scheme is linked below and there is a specific section of our application form where you can mark if you consider yourself eligible. We encourage candidates to let us know so we can provide the best support and access throughout the process.
Reasonable Adjustments We strongly encourage any candidate who may require reasonable adjustments to make us aware as soon as possible, either using the section on the application form or by contacting the Resourcing Team directly (email below). We will have a confidential discussion with you and we take the approach of 'you tell us what you require . click apply for full job details