Job Introduction
Principal Lawyer – Contracts and Procurement
(RP0011)
Starting salary £43,630pa with potential progression to £50,792pa on achieving designated skills and experience
37 hours per week (hybrid working including at least one office day per week)
Here in Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, we have the Community at our Heart: Homes to be proud of; Enable an economy that delivers for everyone; Action on Climate Change; Run an effective council; and Together, create opportunities for our communities.
About the role:
We are looking for a Principal Lawyer – Contracts and Procurement to join our Legal and Land Charges team. The team is, currently, 15-strong, including qualified lawyers, a Trainee Solicitor and a Graduate Solicitor Apprentice. The role is a new role within the team and so you will be able to mould and develop the role to provide the high-quality, customer-focused, specialist legal advice and assistance which is required across all areas of the council and all areas of Contracts and Procurement.
About you:
You will be a qualified FILEX, Solicitor, Barrister or hold similar qualification, licensing you to practice law in England and Wales. You will have a good understanding of the workings of local government, including its financial, legal and political context.
Your duties will include:
- providing accurate, succinct and timely legal advice, assistance, representation and support to Officers and Members of the Council.
- ensuring, through the provision of legal advice that the Council, its Members and Officers are aware of their statutory duties and legal obligations, to enable them to act confidently within the law and the Council’s Constitution in fulfilling their roles.
- providing accurate and up-to-date legal advice to the Procurement Manager and their team and working closely with the Procurement Manager and their team, providing legal advice and assistance in relation to the procurement process for individual cases.
- dealing with project work and high value contracts between the Council and external contractors/service providers.
- dealing with contractual disputes and procurement challenges
- deputising, as required, for the Legal Services Manager
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential in this post.
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council:
Our CORE values—Collaborative, Open, Responsible, Excellent—guide everything we do.
We offer a competitive salary, a 19.5% employer contribution to the Local Government Pension Scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance starting at 25 days plus Bank Holidays. Our offices are situated in the heart of Welwyn Garden City which is on the main train line from London Kings Cross.
Closing date for applications is 18th August 2024.
Remote assessments will be held on 27th August 2024.
Interviews will be held on 3rd and 4th September 2024.
