Background of Department/Role
Are you a practising lawyer or barrister and experienced problem solver who enjoys working independently on a wide range of complex and strategic projects as well as part of a team? Are you an aspiring leader who enjoys a challenging fast-paced environment where no two days are the same? Would you like to manage, guide and inspire others to provide excellent legal services and develop while working in a supportive team?

If so, Canterbury Christ Church University has a fixed term role in its Governance and Legal Services team that could be for you. You will oversee the provision of legal advice and support as well as managing ‘legal’ risk in relation to commercial, academic, student and consumer related matters.

The Opportunity
In this role, you will be the primary point of contact and lead GLS’ day to day delivery of legal services to stakeholders. You will foster the team’s already excellent working relationship with a variety of key University teams by providing expert, high quality professional, solution oriented legal advice to support the University’s strategic aims.

Working independently as well as part of the GLS team and when required, taking responsibility for instructing external counsel, you will support and advise on a variety of complex matters including high profile and high value matters. Amongst other matters, you will be responsible for advising (including undertaking due diligence) on collaboration agreements with UK and non-UK partners for the provision of education, agreements relating to the procurement of goods and services, recruitment of students to courses, dispute resolution and litigation, matters relating to students as ‘consumers of education’, student placement and work experience agreements. You will be a senior member of GLS and will work closely and collaboratively with key teams such as the Senior Management Team, Senior Leadership Team, the Procurement teams, academic Faculties, the UK Partnerships and Apprenticeship Unit, International Partnerships and Development, the Finance team including the Insurance office, the Directorate of Student Resolution and Student Protection and the Quality and Standards Office.

You will combine your technical expertise with a very human approach and communicate technical and legal concepts and risks in a way that engages people working at different levels and in different areas of the University. In this role, you will not only be providing legal advice. You will be training colleagues, promoting best practice across the university (a large and complex organisation), maintaining a repository of template agreements and ensuring the University manages its legal risks effectively and complies with its legal, statutory and regulatory obligations. You will see how managing ‘legal’ risk fits into the bigger picture of what our values-driven University stands for and will help others see that too.

Who are we looking for?

We are excited to hear from qualified solicitors or barristers with outstanding drafting, negotiation, interpersonal and communication skills who can provide client-focussed and practical legal advice. An ability to analyse complex issues and make decisions independently together with the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships both inside and outside of the University are key.

We will be looking for lawyers with experience of working at a senior, strategic level. Significant knowledge and experience of preparing, reviewing and negotiating a range of commercial contracts for senior internal and external stakeholders is essential. The role holder is not expected to be a specialist in all legal disciplines but will need to demonstrate substantial core experience in advising on a wide variety of commercial contracts, IP law and a capability for quickly understanding and leading on all legal matters within their remit. An excellent knowledge and experience of advising clients on pervasive legal considerations such as contract, company, consumer and data protection law, legal practice, dispute resolution, and litigation are essential.

A sound understanding of charity and consumer law together with the information governance and safeguarding obligations of a public body is desirable. Experience in the higher education sector and/or experience of consumer claims and litigation, working with insurers in respect of insured losses, whilst not essential, will be an advantage.

How to apply

Start date for applications: 16/04/2024
Closing date for applications: 02/05/2024
Interview date: 09/05/2024

If you require further information regarding the post please feel free to contact Natalie Wright at natalie.wright@canterbury.ac.uk (strictly no agencies, thank you) quoting reference number REQ4568.

Additional information

Canterbury Christ Church University truly welcomes fresh perspectives and new voices. We want you to bring the real you to work, so we are committed to building a genuinely inclusive working environment where everyone is welcomed and where everyone can have a true sense of belonging. Our spirit of community will help us to eliminate discrimination and will enable us all to thrive in a culture that is underpinned by fairness and justice. We therefore seek people to join us who will proactively support and shape this aim and contribute in their own unique way.

Please note applications must be made online via the University website; details sent directly via email cannot be considered.

Prior consideration will be given to applicants in the University’s redeployment pool. No agencies, thank you.