Chief Legal Officer at Education Authority Northern Ireland

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

19 Jul, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

20 Apr, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Strategic leadership, Legal advice, Risk management, Compliance, Governance, Litigation management, Stakeholder engagement, Policy development, Budget management, Team leadership, Regulatory compliance, Legal analysis, Performance management, Contract management, Insurance services, Claims management

Industry

Education Administration Programs

Description

JOB DESCRIPTION Reports to: Chief Executive Strategic Leadership As a member of the Corporate Leadership Team, Chief Officers are responsible for working flexibly and collaboratively with the Chief Executive and other members to provide strategic leadership to the Education Authority (EA), particularly in regard to progressing EA’s improvement journey and ensuring strategic alignment across the organisation. In this context, the roles have responsibility for the following: Optimise business structures, harnessing strengths and making EA a great place to work. Ensure activities are undertaken with clarity and focus on the statutory responsibilities and strategic priorities EA is responsible for delivering. Work collectively and collaboratively with other Chief Officers to align and agree functions under the new leadership structure. Consider the resourcing profile and organisational changes required to deliver the optimum structure for EA. Focus on strategic leadership duties, offering overarching leadership that empowers individuals managing services to focus more on operational excellence. Lead detailed reviews of EA’s core functions and current challenges to inform a more balanced structure. Work towards EA’s long-term, improvement ambitions, ensuring that the future structure is aligned with its vision, purpose, and strategic goals. Ensure focus on the core purpose of the organisation to ensure clarity of mission and objectives. Determine the prioritisation of EA activities. Align functions under a new structure, as well as consideration of the resourcing profile and organisation changes required in support of any future change agenda. Ensure that EA lives within its annual Budget allocation from the Department of Education. Work in partnership with staff and stakeholders including partners across the education sector, governing bodies, school leaders, trade unions, elected representatives, other related agencies, the media and the public. Maximise opportunities for improvements while promoting innovation and ambition. Provide strategic leadership for all programmes and projects relating to improvements to service delivery models while ensuring that EA adheres to relevant legislation and standards. Ensure that service delivery is shaped by service user input. Advise the Department of Education on policy issues and contribute to policy reviews. Key Areas of Focus EA Solicitors operates as a central team that provides legal advice and representation to EA, alongside Claims and Insurance services within EA Legal Services. These functions report to the Chief Legal Officer, who leads strategic direction for legal, claims, and insurance activities in line with organisational objectives, and advises the Chief Executive and Board. Regular reporting of emerging risks and trends to senior leadership is a key responsibility, along with tightly managing the performance of external legal service providers. The Chief Legal Officer is also tasked with embedding lessons learned from legal cases and claims into ongoing prevention and improvement initiatives, strengthening EA’s resilience and supporting continuous improvements of EA’s Legal Services. Budget: £1.7 million Staff: 31 The Chief Legal Officer oversees these main areas. Strategic Leadership: Develop and lead EA's Legal Services by focusing on risk management, compliance, and assurance. This includes establishing frameworks for legal and claims services that match organisational needs and risk profiles and maintaining strong governance through clear reporting and escalation channels. Provide strategic oversight on caseloads using a risk-based approach to quickly identify and address significant legal issues. Managing external providers via contracts and performance reviews ensures quality and value. Adapts workforce skills for evolving needs, modernises systems for performance insights, and promotes a learning culture so litigation lessons help guide preventive measures and service improvement. Legal Support to Schools: Provide leadership and direction for the delivery of financial services to schools and ensure they are supported effectively. This includes providing risk-based support in critical areas such as special education needs and appeals, assisting with incident management and claims to help minimise liability exposure, and leveraging insights from litigation to inform school policies and staff training. Legal Risk Management and Compliance: Create and apply proactive models for identifying, evaluating, and reducing legal and regulatory risks throughout EA. Other Any other duties related to the role which may be required from time to time by the Chief Executive and the Board. In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), be expected to promote Good Relations, Equality of Opportunity and pay due regard for Equality Legislation at all times. Be responsible for the continuing professional development of all legally qualified staff in EA, to include compliance with Law Society of Northern Ireland and Bar Council of Northern Ireland This job description will be subject to review considering changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. The Corporate Leadership Team is currently reviewing its structure. It is likely that other roles and responsibilities will be assigned as a result of the review. PERSON SPECIFICATION Candidates must demonstrate on their application form that they meet the following essential criteria. Factor Essential Criteria Method of Assessment Qualification Be a qualified Solicitor entitled to practice in Northern Ireland and hold a practising certificate issued by the Law Society of NI. AND Hold a Bachelor’s Degree (UK Qualification and Credit Framework Level 6) or an equivalent, higher or professional qualification. Application Form/ Pre-Employment Checks Experience Demonstrate three years' post-qualification experience (‘PQE’) in law to include demonstrating legal analytical ability and sound judgement in the resolution of complex legal cases. Demonstrate one year's experience of working collaboratively across a senior leadership team to deliver strategic alignment of purpose, vision, and goals, and optimise use of the organisation’s resources to deliver maximum value for the public/customers. Experience of providing over-arching leadership with evidence of empowering, championing excellence and establishing momentum for continuous improvement that has delivered improved outcomes for the public/customers. Be a strong communicator with proven skills to engage across a wide range of stakeholders, demonstrating successful impact. Demonstrates an understanding of the potential along with the challenges of delivering high quality legal operations including ensuring regulatory compliance and mitigating legal risk. Application Form/ Presentation/ Interview Other The successful candidate will be required: to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion; OR be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion. Application Form Our Values Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential. DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage. Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice. APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here. For more information, the candidate information pack can be viewed here. To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here. The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer

Responsibilities

The Chief Legal Officer provides strategic leadership for legal, claims, and insurance services while ensuring organizational alignment and regulatory compliance. They are responsible for managing external legal providers, advising senior leadership on risks, and embedding lessons from legal cases into preventive initiatives.