Senior Legal Commercial Manager

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Senior Legal Commercial Manager

This role will be based at the BGS headquarters in Keyworth in Nottingham

Appointment will be at UKRI Pay Band F - salary is £54,043 per annum

Please note that internal UKRI applicants will currently be subject to the UKRI Pay & Reward Policy & Guidance to determine their starting salary

A great benefits package is offered, including an outstanding pension scheme, 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and access to flexi-time

Full-time - 37 hours a week (some flexible working options may be available, including a small amount of remote working, in line with BGS policy)
Permanent appointment

About the role

Are you Interested in facilitating major national and international geoscientific research and collaboration projects, within a world-renowned geoscientific research facility?

Ready for your next senior legal role, newly created in anticipation of increased (commercial) research activity at BGS, with the opportunity to develop the role, tailored to your experience and skill set?

Want to make a real difference to the way in which BGS manages the legal, contractual, and operational frameworks supporting its research activities?

BGS is looking for an experienced, highly skilled, and motivated Senior Legal Commercial Manager, reporting directly into our Head of Legal and IPR.

You must be a highly skilled & experienced legal and contracts negotiator, expert in providing pragmatic legal advice and legal drafting solutions, to advise in relation to and then facilitate the undertaking of commercial and collaborative work, contributing to navigating complex bid/tender opportunities and then securing & maintaining contracts/agreements on optimal and legally secure terms.

We also want you to review our internal legal, contractual, and operational frameworks associated with bid, tender, contractual and certain procurement processes; with the confidence, gravitas, and leadership skills to implement then maintain any identified opportunities for improvement or greater efficiency, whilst not losing sight of the primary objective: providing operational legal support for BGS's geoscientific research activities. You will also be expected to deputise for the Head of Legal and IPR in their absence (e.g. on leave).

About you

To succeed in this exciting new role, you will need to be:

• An expert trusted legal and contracts resource for BGS
• Comfortable with and experienced in leading and managing the provision of legal support, negotiation, and problem-solving skills to large scale national and international research projects
• Comfortable with managing your own responsibilities and workload, within an often high-pressured, time-critical legal environment - but at the same time becoming an integral and respected part of the Legal & IPR Team, able to manage, guide and mentor other members of the team as appropriate
• Adaptable, flexible, and pragmatic, thinking outside of the box when required, in relation to getting complex, sensitive, or non-standard situations 'over the line' when required and be able to demonstrate robust commercial awareness, but within the context of BGS's primary status as a research institute
• A superb communicator, able to build relationships both with legal counterparts at the organisations BGS works for/with (including any external legal advisors they may appoint), as well as with BGS Business Development and other Operational colleagues and geoscientific staff, understanding the context of research being undertaken and what a 'good' outcome looks like from their perspective(s)
• Able to demonstrate experience of the aims and objectives of research/public sector organisations as well as commercial operations.

There may be a requirement for occasional travel within the UK or overseas, as required. The post will benefit from BGS's hybrid working arrangements, with some limited option for remote working, whilst spending most of your time working from our Keyworth site.

Please also refer to the additional specific essential and desirable skills criteria for this post.

Please note - you will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during your employment.

About us

The British Geological Survey (BGS) is an applied geoscience research centre that belongs to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and is affiliated to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). It is a world leading geological survey whose core mission is to advise government of science related to the subsurface and to undertake applied research to solve earth and environmental issues, both in the UK and globally. It is funded directly by UKRI, as well as through research grants and private sector contracts.

We strive to promote equality and diversity across our organisation in order to continuously improve our scientific and organisational efficiency. As such, we aim to have a workforce with employees from all backgrounds with people who are passionate about earth science and who share our dedication to work for the good of the environment and the benefit of society.

How to apply

Applicants are required to include a CV and covering letter outlining their suitability for the role. We would stress the importance of this paperwork in our selection process.

A well thought through application providing evidence and examples of how you meet the advertised essential and desirable criteria for the post will be considered far more favourably than a generic covering letter and CV.

If you experience any issues applying for this role, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Sunday 23 June 2024. Interviews are expected to be held early July in Nottingham.

Skills Specification - Criteria to be assessed at Shortlist 'S' and Interview 'I' Stage

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Law degree or other degree with relevant legal/commercial contracts experience and qualifications (S)

Desirable

• Further relevant legal degree or other qualifications, e.g. commercial law, contract law, intellectual property rights law and Project Management qualifications (S)

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Substantial amount of experience (with demonstrable evidence of successful outcomes) of leading the management of complex legal and contractual processes associated with commercial tender, contract, and research agreement work; to include leading and managing negotiations with customers and/or partners, with regard to terms and conditions under which contracted or collaborative work is to be undertaken (S&I)

Desirable

• Experience of working within a UK research institute and/or public sector body (or demonstrable experience of routinely working with/for such organisations), including experience of handling commercialisation activities and 'routes to market' (S&I)

KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Expert knowledge of contract law and practise/management, including all relevant legislation/regulations (S&I)

Desirable

• In-depth understanding of specific legislation/regulations of particular relevance to scientific research community and public sector, e.g. Freedom of Information Act/Environmental Information Regulations; Data Protection legislation; Intellectual Property Rights (S&I)

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Essential

• Working unsupervised, but also as a key, senior, member of a wider Legal Team and in compliance with local and corporate policies, processes and frameworks: meticulous attention to detail regarding drafting legal and contractual documentation, working within a high-pressure, routinely time-critical legal/contractual environment, to include effectively communicating same to non-legal colleagues, utilising superb written and verbal skills(S&I)

PERSONAL QUALITIES

Essential

• Approachable, coupled with the experience, authority and determination required to manage difficult conversations and decisions with (senior) colleagues and external parties and then implement flexible, adaptable, and proactive approaches to problem-solving with demonstrable evidence of success; whether in relation to existing processes, polices and documentation or as the 'champion' for new/revised policies, processes and documentation you identify as required to meet organisational or team needs. (I)

MOTIVATION

Essential

• Understands and has experience of the needs of a commercial business (unit) as well as the aims and objectives of a public sector/research organisation such as BGS and ability to relate this to your role within the organisation. (S&I)

About The British Geological Survey (BGS)

The British Geological Survey (BGS) is an applied geoscience research centre that is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and affiliated to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). It is a world leading geological survey that provides a core science mission to inform government of science related to the subsurface and its interfaces and also undertakes applied research for solutions to earth and environmental processes, both in the UK and globally. It is funded directly by UKRI as well as through research grants and via private sector contracts.

BGS has an annual budget of approximately £60 million and employs 650 people. It has two main sites, a head office in Keyworth near Nottingham and the Lyell Centre, which is a joint collaboration with Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. BGS works with more than 150 private sector organisations as well as having close links with 40 universities and sponsors approximately 100 PhD students each year.

How to Apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit your CV and a covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for BGS and the role you're applying for. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit your application without a covering letter may result in your application not being considered. You will only be assessed on the content of your CV and covering letter and not the 'experience' section of the application.

About UKRI

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, and a vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org .

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to flourish and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.