Director of Legal
Abingdon Rd, Culham, UK
Full-time
Department: Corporate Services
Salary: £80,000 to £100,000 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
Confirmed Grade: Executive
Site Location: UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire

Company Description

By 2050, the planet could be using twice as much electricity compared to today. Are you interested in contributing and helping to shape the future of the world’s energy? If so, read on.

Fusion, the process that powers the Sun and Stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA are at the forefront of realising energy from fusion, working with industry and research partners to deliver the ground-breaking developments that will underpin tomorrow's fusion power stations with the aim of bringing fusion electricity to the grid.

As we work towards our mission and goals, UKAEA has devised values (Innovative, Committed, Trusted and Collaborative) that capture the spirit of how we work.

Job Description

Who are we looking for?

As the Director of Legal at UKAEA, you will have extensive experience in a broad spread of legal areas. You may already be in a similar role or looking to advance your career in an organisation that is a world leader in sustainable fusion energy.

You will have excellent leadership skills and be able to operate at a board level providing advice in relation to the UK Atomic Energy Act, UKAEA's Framework document and government prescribed codes of practice.

With an Inclusive and collaborative style, you'll ensure team members are developed and empowered to deliver results.

What will you be responsible for?

- Providing advice, legal counsel and leading on legal support for all of UKAEA contractual commitments. Advising the Board and executive members on all legal matters, Internal and external governance polices.
- Leading and directing that may include customers, partners, suppliers and this may be directly or through our commercial departments.
- Managing and influencing the internal client base of c.2,200 strong workforce to operate within the confines of legal constraints.
- Compliance monitoring.
- Managing legacy legal issues relating to our 40 years of history.
- Advice on UKAEA's partnership interests, the development of the Culham Campus, IP ownership and public contact regulations.
- Instruction and engagement of external lawyers.

Qualifications

Essential skills, experience and competence required

- Degree level or equivalent experience.
- Qualified lawyer.
- In-depth knowledge and understanding of public sector procurement regulations.
- Extensive expertise in a broad spread of legal areas to cover IP, employment, JVs and other partnering or collaboration models, procurement, corporate governance and finance.
- Excellent leadership skills along with an inclusive, collaborative, hardworking style where team members are empowered to deliver results.
- Track record of dealing with complex matters with multiple stakeholders.
- Excellent verbal and written communication, negotiation and collaboration skills.
- Creative problem solver with a demonstrated ability to tailor communication style to diverse audiences and creatively resolve negotiation barriers.

Additional Information

What we offer

Our comprehensive benefits package includes a vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive, an Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders, Flexible working options including family friendly policies, Emergency paid leave, Generous annual leave allowance (30.5 days) increased with length of service, wide range of career development opportunities, outstanding defined benefit pension scheme; Corporate bonus scheme and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).

We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly from individuals from black and other ethnic minority backgrounds, including nationality and citizenship, people with disabilities and women. The Executive Team with support from our ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, is actively promoting EDI and taking steps to increase the diversity of our people through reinforcing best practice in recruitment and selection, and revaluating approaches where it is clear we can remove barriers to success.

Please be advised that this vacancy is due to close on 01/04/2023. We may close earlier than this date if large or sufficient numbers of applications are received.

Please note all employees working at the UK Atomic Energy Authority will be required to complete an online Disclosure Certificate application as part of their clearance - The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks will show the details of all current criminal convictions or will confirm that there are no such convictions.

Note for applicants who are applying for employment with UKAEA either from outside the United Kingdom or who have spent time outside the United Kingdom in the last five years. Please visit the UK Government website. If the country you are resident in or have resided in is not listed on this website or that the UK Government is not aware of how to obtain a criminal records check from that state then we are unable to process your application.