UK Research and Innovation

Salary: Starting from £50,702 per annum          
Grade:  UKRI Band F
Contract Type: Maternity Cover for 6 months with possible extension 
Hours: Full time 
Base Location: Polaris House, Swindon or Harwell Oxfordshire
Closing Date: 9^th August 2021
Interview Date: Between 17^th & 19^th August 2021

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is an independent, non-departmental public body, bringing together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK, and Research England.

UKRI’s mission is to lead the overall strategic direction of research and innovation funding in the UK, pushing the frontiers of human knowledge, to deliver benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research and business-led innovation.

The UKRI Legal function is part of the new shared corporate services function. The team provides legal support and advice across a wide range of legal areas from commercial law, State Aid/subsidy control and public law; to information law, large-scale grant programmes and international subscriptions, property and employment.

UKRI is now seeking an experienced Senior lawyer to join the Legal Directorate to provide maternity cover for a 6-month period with possibility for extension.

The Role

The Senior In-house Lawyer (Commercial) will work within the UKRI Legal team and report to the Deputy Head of Legal (Commercial).The main focus of the role is the provision of timely, high-quality and pragmatic legal advice on a wide range of complex contract and commercial law issues affecting the functions and operation of UKRI. The postholder will be expected to take a flexible approach and be able to quickly get up to speed with new and unfamiliar areas of law as the remit of UKRI Legal grows to meet the developing needs of the wider business. These areas of work may also include State Aid/the UK subsidy control regime, public procurement, GDPR/data protection and Information law compliance, company law or property.  

The post may be based in Harwell or Swindon. Although the team is currently working remotely, some travel between UKRI locations to facilitate team working is likely to be required. In addition, UKRI operates flexible working policies that facilitate home working.

About You

The successful candidate will be a professional, skilled and experienced senior commercial lawyer with the ability to understand public sector policy drivers and work effectively within the statutory framework applicable to a non-departmental public body. In additional to technical aptitude, the successful candidate will demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as the ability to influence and work collaboratively. The role will suit a ‘can-do’ individual who is self-motivated and able to plan and manage a varied workload effectively, with strong attention to detail, a proven track record of meeting deadlines and effectively prioritising and managing competing demands.

Academic 

Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in their first degree (in any subject). Where an applicant holds an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a 2.1 degree. UKRI will consider applicants who do not have a 2.1 degree but only where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided (e.g. via relevant experience and results achieved for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE, Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC).

Professional Qualifications 

Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales. 

To succeed in this role you will:

• Have strong experience of providing sound, pragmatic legal advice on a range contract and commercial matters (preferably including public procurement law)
• Be reliable legal judgement and appreciation of legal risk
• Have the ability to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly 
• Have strong analytical skills, and the ability to produce timely and fit for purpose advice based on sound legal research 
• Have clear appreciation of the role of lawyers in a governmental body and a sound understanding of the implications of UKRI’s status as a non-departmental public body
• Have experience of working in a legal role in the public sector and an understanding of the implications of UKRI’s status as a non-departmental public body.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits including a flexible working scheme, a Career Average Revalued Earnings pension scheme, 30 days annual leave allowance, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.

Applications are handled by UK Shared Business Services, to see more details, for the full role profile and to apply please click the apply button. Please include a covering letter outlining how you fit the role criteria. Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on +44 (0)1793 867000.