Head of Legal

Job Description and Person Specification

Head of Legal - closing date Monday 16 February 2026, 5pm

Location:
Resolution Plaza, Head Office (with regular travel to local housing offices)

Grade/Salary: £81412 to £85505

Reports To:
Chief Executive

Direct Reports: N/A

Contract Type:
Permanent/Full Time/hybrid

Lead a high-performing in-house service team supporting East End Homes in managing housing disrepair and related claims. Provide expert legal advice across social housing matters—tenancy enforcement, rent arrears, ASB, and leasehold—ensuring compliance, mitigating risk, and improving customer outcomes. The role will contribute to policy development by providing legal input, not by drafting or owning policy.

• Disrepair & Housing Conditions

• Develop and implement disrepair strategy to reduce incidence, cost, and reputational risk.
• Oversee case management, ensuring quality pleadings, evidence, and settlement strategies.
• Ensure compliance with Pre-Action Protocols; design templates and workflows to track outcomes.
• Identify root causes and work with operational teams to prevent recurrence.
• Manage external legal providers, driving value through negotiated rates and KPIs.

• Social Housing Legal Advisory

• Advise on tenancy matters, enforcement, and statutory obligations.
• Lead legal action for statutory access, injunctions, and possession claims.
• Support income recovery strategies and ASB enforcement with proportionate remedies.
• Input in to draft policies to ensure legal compliance and clarity.

• Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Set litigation strategy, authorise settlements, and manage costs.
• Prepare for hearings, instruct counsel, and oversee witness preparation.
• Embed learning from cases into policy and process improvements.

• Leadership

• Build and develop an internal legal team; define career pathways.
• Influence stakeholders and provide clear advice to Exec and Board.
• Deliver training to frontline staff on legal processes and compliance.

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister (England & Wales) with current practising certificate.

• Expertise in housing litigation and disrepair within social housing or local authority.
• Proven ability to manage complex cases, external providers, and budgets.
• Experience advising senior leadership and drafting policies.

• Strong knowledge of UK housing law, litigation strategy, and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent advocacy, negotiation, and risk management skills.
• Data-driven approach to performance and decision-making.

• High integrity, sound judgment, resilience, and ability to work at pace.

33 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

Pension – up to 10% Employer Contribution

£200 – Gym Membership contribution

Medical Cash Plan