We are working closely with local authority in Bexley to assist with the appointment of a Head of Commercial (Contract, Planning & Property), on a 3-months contract, highly likely to be extended at clients discretion. Please apply with your CV for immediate consideration.

Rate of Pay: £48.43- £67.61 per hour

Summary:

The Head of Commercial (Contracts, Property and Planning) – Interims provides strategic leadership and specialist legal expertise across commercial contracts, property, planning, highways, and governance matters within the London Borough of Bexley. The postholder leads the delivery of high-quality legal services, ensuring the Council receives timely, commercially focused, and legally robust advice that supports corporate priorities, service transformation, and major regeneration projects.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage, and develop the Commercial, Property, Planning, and Contracts Legal Team, ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal services across the Council.
• Draft, negotiate, and complete Section 106 Agreements, Section 38 Agreements, Section 278 Agreements, planning obligations, highways agreements, licences, easements, deeds, and other complex legal documentation.
• Advise on planning law, highways legislation, local government law, commercial contracts, land transactions, regeneration projects, and associated legal risks.
• Ensure legal documentation is accurate, legally compliant, and supports the Council's strategic, operational, and financial objectives.
• Deputise for the Monitoring Officer, providing advice on governance, constitutional matters, ethical standards, decision-making, and statutory compliance.

Qualifications:

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive (FCILEx) with a current practising certificate (where applicable).
• Degree in Law (LLB) or equivalent recognised legal qualification.

Essentials:

• Extensive experience leading legal teams responsible for commercial contracts, planning, property, and highways matters.
• Expert knowledge of local government law, planning law, highways law, property law, commercial contracts, procurement, and governance.
• Proven experience drafting, negotiating, and completing Section 106, Section 38, and Section 278 agreements, development agreements, and associated legal documentation.
• Strong understanding of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Highways Act 1980, Local Government Act 1972, Localism Act 2011, Procurement Act 2023 (or applicable procurement legislation), Land Registration Act, and related legislation.
• Experience deputising for, or providing support to, a Monitoring Officer on governance and constitutional matters.

Please note:

• You should be available to work immediately or at a short notice.
• You should have right to work in U.K

Disclaimer: Brackenberry Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. We are committed to equality in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. Unless otherwise stated all of our roles are temporary, though opening assignments can be and often are, extended by clients on a longer term basis and can sometimes become permanent.

Important: We will interpret your application as being permission to submit your CV to this role (with the right to represent you) unless you advise us to the contrary. Incase the role requires an enhanced DBS, your DBS must be either through us or be accompanied by a subscription to the DBS updating service.

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