Legal Advisor
Abingdon Rd, Culham, UK
Full-time
Department: Corporate Services
Salary: £53,017 to £56,555 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension
Confirmed Grade: Level 6
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 strategically contributing 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 our Legal Advisor, you will have the drive to support the organisation as it moves through significant changes with current programmes, commitments and potential new engagements within this innovative industry.

You will be able to work with complex and varied issues across several legal disciplines. There is little repetition in this changing environment, which provides a challenging career opportunity. There will be plenty of scope to use the analytical skills of a lawyer, learning about the projects and proposals to fulfil the mission and goals of the organisation and to contribute to their achievement.

What will you be responsible for?

- Delivering a credible legal advice service and support to UKAEA.
- Liaising with external lawyers and advisers as appropriate.
- Providing accurate and timely counsel to executives and managers in a variety of legal topics which may include:
- commercial R&D collaborations.
- knowledge transfer.
- intellectual property.
- construction and engineering.
- procurement.
- commercial property.
- corporate, grant finance.
- Brexit.
- Advising on internal governance policies and monitoring compliance.
- Assisting in liaison with government and external bodies relating to the formal structure and functions of UKAEA and other issues such as public procurement, subsidy control and export control.
- Researching and evaluating of different risk factors regarding business decisions and operations.
- Applying risk management techniques and offering proactive advice on possible legal and regulatory issues.
- Communicating and negotiating with external parties such as regulators, external counsel and public authorities, creating relations of trust.
- Drafting and completing legal documents to protect UKAEA’s legal and commercial position.
- Taking instructions from and working with multiple stakeholders on complex matters.
- Providing training support on contracting and other legal issues.
- Proactively maintaining knowledge of current developments in relevant legislation and common law.
- Instructing and collaborating with specialist external lawyers on behalf of UKAEA.

Qualifications

Essential skills, experience and competence required

- Qualified solicitor in the UK with minimum 3 years’ relevant PQE.
- Proven experience as a solicitor in a commercial environment.
- Strong negotiation skills with appropriate and contextual business judgement.
- Excellent knowledge and understanding of contract, intellectual property and corporate governance law and practice.
- Full comprehension of the influences of the external environment of an organisation like UKAEA.
- High degree of professional ethics and integrity.
- Sound judgement and ability to analyse situations and information, including taking a practical but compliant approach to contractual risk profiles.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Time management and ability to prioritise.
- Research skills and presenting the results of such research.

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 03/04/2023. 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.