Monitoring Officer - Greater Essex Combined County Authority
External Partner
Temporary, Full Time (Maximum 12 Months)
up to £750 per day (Inside IR35)
Location: Countywide
Closing Date: 3rd December 2025
Overview
Greater Essex is entering a transformative period through devolution, aimed at simplifying governance, improving service delivery, and empowering communities. Under the proposed changes, powers and funding will be transferred from central government to a new Mayoral Combined County Authority, enabling more local control over key areas such as transport, housing, and economic development.
This role will play a critical part in ensuring the new Great Essex Combined County Authority, one of the largest County Combined Authority, is set up effectively, with the robust governance, strategies, policies and frameworks required to meet statutory and legal obligations. They will establish strong foundations that enable the organisation to accelerate its strategic priorities at pace. To achieve this, postholders will need to build effective relationships and networks across central and local government, partners, businesses and residents, and bring the business, commercial and political acumen needed to translate strategy into meaningful action.
Purpose of the Role
- Be the lead for legal, governance, and compliance leadership across the organisation.
- Provide expert legal and governance advice to the Interim Chief Executive, senior leader and the Mayor once elected. Advise the Mayor, Interim Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer, and senior leaders on legal and governance matters.
- Ensure the Combined Authority operates within its framework and statutory obligations.
- Oversee governance frameworks, assurance processes, decision-making structures, and data protection compliance (as Data Protection Officer).
- Keep the organisation’s constitution and decision making structures under review ensuring that they are fit for purpose and develop with the organisation
- Support the organisation’s rapid development with strong governance foundations and ensure that the scrutiny function and the scrutiny officer operates in a lawful and effective way.
- Build partnerships and raise the profile of Greater Essex at a regional and national level, working across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors to drive inward investment, secure funding from government, and ensure value for money in all financial commitments.
- Discharge the statutory role of monitoring officer.
- Develop the organisation’s legal and governance functions.
Key Responsibilities
Governance & Legal Leadership
- Lead all legal, governance, constitutional, and compliance functions.
- Act as the Greater Essex Combined County Authority’s most senior legal adviser.
- Develop and maintain the governance model, constitution, and regulatory frameworks.
- Oversee procurement policy, legal risk, and regulatory compliance.
Assurance & Statutory Duties
- Fulfil statutory Monitoring Officer responsibilities.
- Ensure adherence to governance frameworks, statutory duties, and ethical standards.
- Act as Data Protection Officer: ensure General Data Protection, Freedom of Information, Environmental Information Regulations, Regulation compliance, handle breaches, and manage regulatory relationships.
Strategic Advisory
- Provide authoritative advice on legal and governance issues affecting all portfolios (e.g., growth, transport, climate, skills, housing).
- Support policy development with legally robust guidance.
- Anticipate and mitigate legal and governance risk.
Organisational Leadership & Culture
- Shape policy, strategy, and organisational behaviours.
- Lead partnership working and support collaboration across the region.
- Develop staff, build high-performance cultures, and model ethical leadership.
Systems & Operational Oversight
- Ensure legal, governance, financial, people, and system functions meet statutory requirements.
- Support the Greater Essex Combined County Authority’s Assurance Framework and programme delivery.
Candidate Profile (Essentials)
- Qualified Solicitor Barrister or Legal Executive, with extensive senior legal/governance experience.
- Strong background in local government law, constitutional matters, and political environments.
- Skilled adviser to senior political and executive leaders.
- Experienced in governance design, statutory compliance, data protection and FOI.
- Credible, influential communicator with strong judgement and resilience.
- Experience leading teams, building culture, and managing complex legal portfolios.
*Please note: All role dimensions (budget, line reports, etc) will be established and subject to change during the set-up stage of the interim Combined County Authority.
This role is being recruited on behalf of Southend-on-Sea City Council, Thurrock Council and Essex County Council.This appointment is being managed by Essex Shared Services. Should you have any enquiries or would like to request a confidential discussion please contact Samantha Myddelton on ( samantha.myddelton@essex.gov.uk 03330130098) or Sadie Orwell ( sadie.orwell@essex.gov.uk 0333 0322356).
If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with Essex Shared Services at essexsharedservices@essex.gov.uk
As part of the application process, you will be required to submit a CV and supporting statement. Click ‘APPLY’ to begin your application
Closing date for applications: 3rd December 2025 at 23:59pm