Legal Counsel (Commercial Contracts)

What if you were providing expert legal advice across the IET group with a predominant focus on commercial contracts?

What if you could deliver legal support efficiently while effectively using resources and budget?

What if you were our Legal Counsel?

At the IET, making our world a better place starts by creating a better place for our people. At the IET you'll have more than just a job. Our work is exciting and challenging, connecting the people who solve the problems that matter. It means working with us has real meaning and impact, and you'll grow – professionally and personally – in ways you never thought possible. We're also making significant investments in our people, including providing a modern, vibrant workplace and embracing hybrid working.

What you'll be doing

As Legal Counsel, you will contribute to a legal centre of excellence, which sits within our Governance and External Engagement Directorate. Working closely with the General Counsel, your role involves providing legal advice and support across the IET group of entities, both nationally and internationally, with a predominant focus on commercial contracts.

What we hope you can bring to the role

You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability build effective stakeholder relationships at all levels. You will be competent in analysing and presenting data, so you'll have exceptional written and presentation skills. Ideally you will have commercial contract experience, preferably in house.

We'd love to get to know you

Is Imposter syndrome creeping in? Don't worry – we'd rather hear from you this time than not hear from you at all! Read on for a little more information about the role; but also, keep in mind that we're open to discussing flexible ways of working, including reduced hours and working in an agile way, supported by a hybrid working framework that allows you to find the best place to do your best work.

A little more about the role

• Draft, review and advise on routine and complex contracts (including service agreements, intellectual property agreements, agency and distribution agreements, SaaS agreements, sponsorship agreements, confidentiality agreements, MoUs etc.), for both UK and international entities.
• Procure (as appropriate under the direction of the General Counsel (GC and manage external legal advice from domestic and international lawyers with regards to commercial contracts.
• Create / maintain / update as necessary contract templates and guidance notes for business teams to use as a "self–serve" option.
• Support with procurement process, as appropriate.
• Support with negotiations with third parties, as appropriate.
• Support risk management, identifying potential legal issues in projects/transactions; providing appropriate mitigation of risks within contracts / strategies and minimising exposure and associated costs.
• Engage with other specialist teams (e.g. data, security, finance) with regards to their input into contracts.

• Support the training and coaching of staff responsible for preparing, managing, and terminating contracts and other commercial arrangements.
• Provide input into the development and implementation of policies and procedures, as appropriate.
• Be mindful of the IET's long term business strategy and work to support the projects that align with it.
• Assist GC on other areas of work, as required, including charity law, property law, company law, intellectual property law, litigation and dispute resolution.

A little more about what we're looking for

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop relationships across professional and organisational boundaries; encourage participation and knowledge sharing with other stakeholders.
• Strong commitment to professionalism, self–motivated and with the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and presentation skills, with ability to explain complex points to a non–specialist audience.
• Proven ability to communicate technical and complex information and ideas to different audiences (both up and down the organisation).
• Commercial awareness.
• Commitment to CPD and taking responsibility for personal development to ensure effectiveness in role.
• Qualified in English law with strong post qualification experience working in a similar commercial role.
• Remains calm under pressure and able to work with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures.
• Sound judgement and ability to manage multiple stakeholders and tasks in a pressured environment.
• Strong commitment to professionalism, self–motivated and with the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to analyse and interpret detailed information and to present advice clearly and effectively to a range of stakeholders.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Charity law, Data Protection, Employment, IP and Property.
• Experience as an in–house lawyer, working across a multi–faceted, multi–stakeholder organisation.
• Knowledge of commercial and legal processes beyond UK, preferably in one or more of China (including Hong Kong), India and the USA.

What if you could be you? The IET is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. To find out more, head over to our 'Work for the IET' site.