Commercial 5+ Hertfordshire - 12 Month Contract

A leading industrial group requires an additional lawyer as a maternity cover at a key operating division. This division is a market leader in its field and works extensively with Governments around the world. A minimum of 3 days per week is required in Hertfordshire; whilst up to 2 days per week can be spent in London if required by the selected candidate. Suitable candidates will have a strong background working on complex commercial contracts with experience of public sector contracts being advantageous but not mandatory.

SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Draft, review and negotiate commercial and government contracts for sales, service and purchasing operations of the UK business
• Contract management (claims, amendments, terminations)
• Handle routine compliance inquiries relating to anti-corruption regulations, ethical business practices and other regulatory matters
• Support legal function in EMEA on matters relating to claims, bid protests and litigation

SPECIFIC DUTIES, ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Responsible for all commercial agreements, including sales direct with customers and through representatives
• Review terms and provide risk analysis and appropriate risk reduction strategies in connection with public and civil tenders
• Draft and negotiate other commercial contracts as needed (e.g., service agreements; teaming/consortium agreements; product loan and testing agreements; agency and distribution agreements; confidentiality agreements)
• Be the formal contractual interface with customers for legal matters, including preparation of legal communications, notices, contract amendments, terminations and claims
• Monitoring of complex contracts to ensure both compliance to contractual obligations and internal company policy, together with facilitation of necessary corrective action
• Advise functional departments of contractual rights, risks and obligations including complex contracts and subcontracts
• Participate in the development and maintenance of contract templates and ensure use of approved templates throughout the business
• Provide oversight of the UK business's global export compliance function
• Interface with and manage outside counsel, as well as internal staff and corporate management
• Participate in preparing and conducting legal and compliance training programmes
• Track local legal matters and regularly report progress to General Counsel. Administer contract signatures and filing of local contracts and matter correspondence in line with company processes
• Other duties as may be assigned

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education / Experience:

• Qualified legal professional with minimum of five years PQE; in-house legal department experience a plus.
• Prior transactional experience, including the ability to draft and review contract terms and conditions.
• A background in government contracts is highly desirable; experience with public sector contracting a plus

Skills:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, listening and influencing.
• Able to work effectively under time and workload pressure without detailed close, daily supervision
• Able to build good working relationships with internal stakeholders and customers in a diverse environment
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from management, employees, customers and vendors.
• Strong organizational skills; big-picture oriented but able to focus on the details also
• Able to solve complex practical problems
• Deal with a wide variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists
• Attention to detail and accuracy of work even when managing multiple projects and under time pressure.