Vacancies

Senior Lawyer - Contracts and Procurement

Main Responsibility

Conduct of legal case work (principally the drafting/vetting of contracts and giving advice) relating primarily to corporate procurement contracts/projects and the conduct of related negotiations and managing large scale commercial and corporate procurement projects for all directorates within the County Council and other external public sector clients (and conduct of related negotiations) including:

• Legal research and advice on procurement law/subsidy control/contract law
• Drafting, negotiation and completion of commercial contracts/tender documentation (and other related one off, or standard form/model documents) for goods, works, equipment and/or services.
• Provision of robust client focused advice regarding contract standing orders, financial regulations and all other applicable legal and practical constraints.
• Provision of legal procurement advice regarding the sourcing, establishing, registering, incorporation, use and running of the appropriate legal and corporate vehicles and other incorporated and unincorporated bodies including but not limited to, Companies limited by shares and guarantee, Community Interest Companies, Charities, Social Enterprises, Local Enterprise Partnerships and other “vehicles” or “entities” used in the course of establishing and conducting and running joint venture arrangements between public sector and private sector organisations.
• Drafting, vetting, assisting negotiation of documentation arising from the choice of legal vehicle specified in 1.4 above.  For example, constitutions, terms of reference, objects and articles of association etc.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for you to be an excellent communicator and able to prioritise a varied workload.  Self-motivated with excellent organisational skills and an eye for detail will also be important.

You will be expected to conduct and manage your own caseload with appropriate supervision.  You must be able to communicate effectively with members, senior officers and clients.

We also need you to be able to:

• Negotiate, draft and complete a varied caseload of complex contracts /tender documentation for goods, works, equipment & services, as well as Section 75 Agreements and Transfer Agreements;
• Undertake legal research and provide advice on general contract matters, including procurement and state aid;
• Provide advice in relation to corporate vehicle options and draft associated documentation;
• Provide advice on grant conditions including external funding;
• Demonstrate an understanding of relevant local authority governance considerations including Contract Standing Orders, financial regulations and committee procedures;
• Work with minimal supervision and confidently supervise other more junior staff within the team, including Solicitors/Legal Executives and Legal Assistants.

For more information about this role please contact: Imran Razaq, Deputy Legal Services on 01785 854186 or  imran.razaq@staffordshire.gov.uk  or or Paula Dalton, Legal Services Manager on 01785 276198 or email at paula.dalton@staffordshire.gov.uk

It is anticipated that shortlisting will take place week commencing 14 April 2025, with the intention of interviews concluded week commencing 21 April 2025. 

About Staffordshire County Council

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too. 

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. 

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.