Senior Legal Counsel

Role Description

Job Description

Role Title: Senior Legal Counsel - Commercial

Business Function: Legal

Location: Parkview, 4th Floor, 82 Oxford Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1UX

Reports to: Group Head of Legal

Salary: £70,000 - £80,000 

Working Pattern: 3 days in-office and 2 days remote

What is the purpose of the role

CareTech is one of the largest and most reputable specialist social care and special education needs providers across the UK providing a range of services across over 600 sites and with over 11,000 employees. CareTech has grown rapidly over the last 30 years and remains ambitious exploring new opportunities to grow and improve the services offered, this has led to the business developing and selling a technology business, investing and growing other technology-based businesses which complement the services offered and expanding to the Middle East.

The Senior Legal Counsel will be responsible for supporting the business on all commercial legal matters and report directly to the Group Head of Legal. In this role the Senior Legal Counsel will work closely with the Procurement team and Senior Leadership team in negotiating revenue generating contracts, managing supplier arrangements across the business and identifying and implementing initiatives to increase efficiencies across the business with a particular focus on how the business can better utilise technology and AI.

This hire is focused on adding someone who can engage confidently with senior stakeholders and bring a strategic perspective to complex projects. The Senior Legal Counsel will be responsible for a wide and complex array of matters in the context of an ambitious and large-scale operation. This role will suit a candidate who likes broader commercial legal work, who wants to operate as a business partner and has the ambition to make an impact within a leading business. The Senior Legal Counsel will need to have a good understanding on multiple areas of law and be able to quickly upskill if needed. Given the breadth of issues the Legal team support on, this role also offers a great opportunity to someone who is interested in gaining more experience in other areas of law from leasing, to copyright, to environmental law to medical regulation.

What are the key accountabilities for this role?

• Lead on commercial contract negotiations, particularly across technology, IT and outsourcing.
• Possess a creative approach to solving business and legal problems, show meticulous attention to detail and accuracy and demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Advise senior stakeholders on risk, liability, indemnities and commercial structuring.
• Apply a regulatory and governance-aware lens to commercial decision-making.
• Act as a trusted advisor, balancing legal risk with practical business outcomes.
• Lead on commercial legal matters on behalf of the Legal team while operating under the general management and direction of the Head of Legal.
• An ability to communicate clearly with stakeholders and provide training to senior members of the business on key provisions in commercial contracts.
• Be able to quickly understand the aims of the business, identify legal risks and how Legal can support the business.
• The ability to quickly get up to speed on other areas of law if needed.
• Demonstrate good organisational skills and support in maintaining an accurate record of CareTech’s commercial agreements.
• Attend meetings with senior leadership and the Board to clearly articulate the legal risks associated with commercial arrangements, how the Legal team have sought to mitigate risks during the negotiations and steps the business will need to take to monitor those risks going forward.
• Manage external law firms including all associated costs.
• Provide cross-functional assistance by partnering closely with Risk and Compliance to ensure comprehensive support.
• Support key transformation and digital programmes.
• Refine processes that make legal workflows dramatically more efficient and user-friendly for our business partners.
• Contribute to the development and upkeep of contract templates, playbooks, escalation guides, and other legal team resources.

How will success be measured?

• Providing clear and pragmatic legal advice both verbally and in writing.
• Being solutions focused and supporting the business to achieve it’s aims while articulating the legal risks.
• Positive feedback from internal stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Strong organisation and management of legal documentation and contract records.
• Supporting the business to ensure that governance processes are complied with and legal risks are clearly articulated.
• Ensuring that you remain up to date on changes in legislation, regulations and case law which are relevant.
• Building relationships with stakeholders and ensuring that they have been involved in commercial projects and had an opportunity to raise concerns.
• Raising your profile and that of the Legal team.
• Implementing or improving efficiencies within the Legal team.

What qualifications, knowledge, skills, and behaviours does the role need?

• Qualified solicitor with solid post-qualification experience of at least 3 years.
• Prior experience negotiating, drafting, and guiding implementation of commercial agreements.
• Strong business judgment and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills, with an ability to clearly communicate legal and commercial terms, business strategy and compliance risk to stakeholders at all levels across the business.
• A willingness and ability to influence and effectively challenge stakeholders with credibility at all levels of business.
• An ability to understand complex topics quickly with depth that allows for the delivery and actionable insights.
• An ability to build and leverage relevant networks inside and outside the organisation
• Demonstrate integrity, discretion and confidentiality.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
• Proactive and capable of managing competing priorities.
• Builds effective working relationships with colleagues across the business.
• Professional, reliable and accountable.
• Willingness to learn and develop within the legal field.