Contracts and Procurement Senior Lawyer

The starting salary for this role is £59,868 to £65,755 per annum depending on experience, based on a 36-hour working week.

Are you looking to take the next step in your career in Contracts, Procurement and Projects Law? As a Senior Contract Lawyer, you will join a supportive, successful and Lexcel accredited in-house legal team that delivers effective legal advice and assistance to the Council.

The Council has an agile working policy with flexible working arrangements which includes access to our offices in Reigate, Woking and Weybridge combined with remote or home working. The team are very approachable (even when working remotely!) so there will always be someone to provide you with support and discuss matters with.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Role

We are looking for a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX with substantial experience of the law and practice in this area. This is an ideal role for those interested in developing and enhancing their existing skills whilst undertaking quality and varied work.

In this role you will work as part of a team of Contract Lawyers to provide quality proactive legal advice on issues including, but not limited to, Public Contract Regulations matters, Company law, Subsidy Control, NEC's and JCT construction Contracts, and general contract queries. You will have conduct of a full, varied and demanding caseload.

Senior Lawyers play an active role in the management of the team, and you will be expected to deputise for the Principal Solicitor alongside actively contributing to the future delivery of first-class legal services.

If you consider yourself to be an effective and dynamic individual, with some experience of managing and supervising people and the ability to motivate others whilst working in a team, then we want to hear from you!

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• You are a Solicitor, barrister or Fellow of CILEX, eligible to practise in England and Wales with a current practicing certificate issued by the relevant regulatory authority
• Negotiating and drafting experience such as construction contracts, service agreements, facilities management services
• Providing solutions-focused and enabling advice on a range of matters and an ability to learn quickly about subjects in which you may not have had prior experience
• Effective team working, including managing competing priorities to achieve client/statutory deadlines
• Leading and contributing at client and project meetings, providing exemplary client care and organisational skills
• Advising Members and Senior Officers of the Council

Please note that advocacy will not form part of this role.

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

This is a rolling advert with shortlisting and interviewing taking place on a regular basis. We aim to contact all candidates within two weeks of their submitted application.

This post has been designated as a politically restricted post in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

If you are looking for a role which is both varied and interesting with an opportunity to develop your existing skills and employment experience by working in local government, please click the apply button below to submit your application.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.