Strategic Legal Business Partner

Job description

Job Description

Salary: £50,908 - £53,051 per annum

Hours: 37 hours per week

Interview Date: Thursday 08 and Friday 09 October 2026

Are you looking to step away from frontline legal practice and use your expertise to shape how legal services are delivered?
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced lawyer, legal professional or business improvement specialist who wants to move beyond managing a caseload and play a key role in driving service improvement, performance and change.

As a member of the Legal Leadership Team, you will help shape how Legal Services supports the council's priorities. Rather than undertaking fee-earning work or managing a legal caseload, you will focus on improving how the service operates, using data, insight and analysis to identify opportunities, manage demand and support strategic decision-making.

Working closely with senior leaders and services across the council, you will build strong relationships, develop a deep understanding of organisational priorities and help Legal Services and service areas work more effectively together. Using excellent communication and influencing skills, you will translate complex information into clear, practical messages, challenge constructively where appropriate and build support for improvement and change. You will support innovation, service development and demand management through initiatives such as training, guidance, templates, self-service resources and new ways of working.

This varied role combines stakeholder engagement, performance improvement, project leadership and strategic problem-solving. It offers a unique opportunity for someone with legal knowledge and strong analytical skills to influence how legal services are delivered without returning to a traditional fee-earning or case management role.

Whether your background is as a lawyer looking to step away from frontline legal practice, or in legal services, governance, transformation, insight & data, business partnering, performance management or operational leadership, you will have the ability to turn complex information into practical insight, build credibility with senior stakeholders and help create a modern, resilient and forward-thinking Legal Service

Why us?

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. Find out more about Our Identity, staff networks, and employee benefits here.

Our hybrid working model means office staff are on site for at least half their hours, community-based staff carry out at least half their admin time in a workplace, and customer-facing roles work entirely from their service location.

We are committed to creating a workplace where positive relationships thrive and everyone feels engaged, supported and able to do their best. We do not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment. Everyone is expected to promote a culture of inclusion, dignity, trust and respect, guided by our vision and Our Identity.

Contact details

Marcus Wilson, Head of Legal Services, at [email protected]

Please ensure to regularly check your spam or junk folder for any communication from us regarding the status of your application.

Application criteria

Please download and read the role description and person specification carefully before you apply.

We understand that AI tools can support you in preparing job applications. However, we value authenticity and would encourage you to ensure your submission genuinely reflects your own experiences, skills, and motivations.

We are firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to the principles of inclusion and diversity in both employment and the delivery of services.

Statement of commitment to equality and inclusion

Disability Confident Employer

Application process

Wiltshire Council does not accept unsolicited CVs or candidate details from recruitment agencies that are not appointed under a current, valid contract or approved supplier arrangement (including through our neutral vendor, Comensura).

Submission of unsolicited CVs or candidate details to the Council, whether directly or to individual employees, will not be considered as an introduction and will not create any obligation on the Council to pay any fees. If a candidate whose details have been submitted speculatively is subsequently appointed through a compliant route, no agency fee will be payable in respect of the unsolicited submission.

Agencies wishing to work with the Council must do so only via our approved procurement processes and neutral vendor arrangements.