Regulatory Policy Manager

Regulatory Policy Manager - Regulatory Review Team

Closing date: 21 July 2025

Interview date: 5 August 2025

Overview

It is an exciting time to join the Legal Services Board as we work in collaboration with the legal services sector to deliver our 10-year strategy. Our strategy is driven by a fundamental need to reshape legal services to better meet society’s needs and underpinned by our eight regulatory objectives. We have identified some big challenges facing the legal services sector that we need to tackle to ensure fairer outcomes, stronger confidence, and better services for the public. This includes improving access to justice and dismantling barriers to a diverse and inclusive legal profession at all levels.

From the use of technology like AI and blockchain to consumers’ increasing expectation for more transparent, personalised, and cost-effective services, the legal sector is affected by wider political, socio-economic, and technological trends. As the oversight regulator, it is important that we can anticipate and respond to opportunities and risks across the whole of the sector and we are looking for someone to help us fulfil that ambition. By closely monitoring external drivers, including political, economic, regulatory developments, we will be able to adapt and inform our policy development, regulatory oversight, and delivery of the strategy.

You can see our latest business plan here.

Why does our work matter?

Legal services are of central importance to consumers, our economy and wider society:

• On average, 7-8m people experience a legal problem every year
• 3 out of 10 small businesses face a legal problem every year
• Estimated annual losses to small businesses due to legal problems is £40bn
• The sector contributes around £37bn to the economy and employs 350k people
• An estimated 1m individuals suffer ill health as a result of legal problems annually.

As the oversight regulator for legal services, we are responsible for ensuring that the legal services market is working well for consumers and the public more widely.

Core responsibilities

The Team will be responsible for designing the performance review and investigations procedures and carrying out thematic reviews and investigations. It is anticipated that we will have at least one review underway at any one time. The reviews and investigations will focus on the eight regulatory bodies overseen by the LSB under the Legal Services Act 2007. It will not involve investigations into legal professionals or legal firms.

Skills and experience

We are looking for individuals with a proven track record in effectively carrying out reviews and investigations in areas of regulation. This will involve strong analytical and evaluation skills, experience of exercising sound judgement and the determination to see reviews through to their conclusion. A knowledge of legal services regulation would be ideal but equally, familiarity with regulatory processes and procedures in other sectors will be valuable.

Experience and qualities for the review and investigations team

We are particularly looking for:

• Highly developed investigation skills and experience in dealing with complex issues where forensic examination is needed
• Policy development and delivery skills
• Experience in statutory enforcement
• Effective decision-making 
• Excellent drafting skills
• Ability to work collaboratively and be a strong team player while also self-motivated to work on your own
• Strong organisational and project management skills.

What do Regulatory Policy Managers do?

Across the regulation and policy team, we have a small, focused team of 13 Policy Managers and Associates (not including these new posts) who are responsible for leading our policy and regulatory work. This involves:

• Leading our long-term policy projects on issues like ensuring professionals remain competent throughout their careers, improving transparency on price and quality indicators to help consumers to shop around, and developments in technology
• Acting as relationship managers for any of the nine frontline regulators, including assessing their performance against our regulatory performance framework
• Assessing applications from frontline regulators wishing to change their regulations and determining whether we should accept or refuse the proposed changes.

Regulatory policy managers must be able to:

• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders
• Develop robust and well-evidenced policy options
• Manage projects effectively
• Produce high quality reports and consultation documents Influence the regulators and others through written and oral communications
• Provide support, specialist knowledge and constructive challenge as part of a team
• Lead teams – either as a line manager or a project leader.

Benefits

35 hours per week with a competitive salary, a defined contribution pension scheme with an employer’s contribution of 12-13% of salary, benefits allowance of 10% which can be taken as salary and an annual leave entitlement of 25 days in addition to statutory bank holidays.

The position is open to those who would like to work flexibly including part-time.

Salary:  Up to £52,500 per year depending on experience.

Further information

The LSB has a flexible working policy that enables colleagues to choose whether they want to work from home, the office, or a hybrid of both.  You can be based anywhere in the UK. There will be a requirement to attend the office for LSB-wide events such as awaydays and also for Board meetings, when appropriate.

The LSB is committed to reducing inequality, valuing diversity, and enabling inclusion. We welcome applications from people from all parts of the community.

How to apply

Please write a cover letter outlining why you want the job and the skills and experience you will bring (based on the person specification) and with your CV send it via the button below.

Please send your covering letter and CV as one word document (not a separate cover letter and CV) as we anonymise the applications before they go to the shortlisting panel.

Please note that applications that do not have a cover letter or CV will not be considered.