Job Introduction

We are seeking an experienced and technically exceptional Global Legal Costs Lead to shape and elevate our legal costs function at a strategic level. This is a high-impact leadership role, responsible for driving excellence in legal costs management which span the UK, Republic of Ireland and South African jurisdictions, across complex, high-value claims while ensuring consistent delivery of quality, efficiency, and strong member outcomes. You will act as the senior technical authority, guiding both strategy and execution in a fast-evolving legal landscape.

Leading a team of specialist legal costs professionals, you will champion continuous improvement, foster a high-performance culture, and ensure that technical capability and quality assurance frameworks are robust and future-ready. The role blends deep subject-matter expertise with strategic oversight, enabling you to influence cost control, operational performance, and service delivery across the organisation.

You will also play a key role in aligning legal costs strategy with broader organisational priorities; balancing financial stewardship, risk management, and member-focused outcomes. This is an opportunity to make a measurable difference by reducing claims costs, enhancing efficiency, and developing a best-in-class legal costs function.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership to the Legal Costs function, aligning team performance with corporate objectives, financial targets, and cultural priorities 
• Direct line management responsibilities for a capable and high-performing team of technical professionals
• Act as the senior technical advisor on complex legal costs matters, ensuring high-quality outcomes and consistent application of costs law and best practice 
• Lead, develop, and embed robust quality assurance and audit frameworks to drive continuous improvement and technical excellence 
• Manage and optimise external legal costs spend, including oversight of third-party suppliers such as Costs Lawyers and Costs Counsel 
• Drive cost efficiency initiatives, reducing claimant and legal spend while maintaining fair and appropriate member outcomes 
• Lead key projects and change initiatives, ensuring delivery to time, cost, and quality with demonstrable return on investment 
• Develop team capability through coaching, training, and structured development frameworks, ensuring high levels of engagement and performance 
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to enhance operational effectiveness, influence decision-making, and ensure alignment with risk appetite and governance standards

The Ideal Candidate

• Degree educated (or equivalent experience), ideally in law, with strong and up-to-date expertise in legal costs law and practice 
• Significant senior-level experience handling clinical negligence costs claims, including high-value and complex cases 
• Proven track record of leading and developing high-performing teams within a legal costs or claims environment 
• Strong technical expertise combined with the ability to translate complexity into clear, actionable guidance 
• Demonstrated experience in driving operational improvements, cost reduction strategies, and efficiency within legal claims functions 
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, with the ability to influence, challenge, and build effective partnerships across all levels 
• Experience in quality assurance, audit, and risk management frameworks within a regulated or professional environment (desirable) 
• Professional qualification such as Costs Lawyer, CILEx, or equivalent, with a commitment to continuous professional development (desirable)

Alongside a competitive salary you can benefit from:

• Discretionary on-target bonus of 15%. Up to a max 30% based on performance
• 11% pension contribution (3% from you, 8% from us – optional additional matched 3% contributions, e.g. 6% from you, 11% from us)
• 30 days annual leave. Flexible public holidays and option to buy/sell additional leave
• Private Medical Insurance
• 6x salary death in service
• Holistic health and wellbeing support package
• A truly flexible hybrid-working arrangement
• A culture that promotes inclusivity, wellbeing and rewards hard work

Medical Protection Society