Senior Lawyer (Contracts) 2 posts

Grade/Salary CEC NJC – Grade 11, £45,291 to £51,972 per annum

Ref No E2183

Closing Date 4th December 2023

Exciting opportunities have become available to work within the Contracts & Procurement Team in the Legal Services Department. We are seeking Senior Lawyers.

ABOUT THE ROLE

You will work as part of the Contracts & Procurement Team (Legal Services), which is a busy and supportive team, and will advise in the most efficient and effective way to meet the requirements of the Council as a whole and those of specific Services and Departments.

The successful candidate will be able to advise senior management in connection with a broad range of projects including:

• Procurement (Goods and Services)
• Adult Social Care
• Highways and Regeneration Projects
• Grant funding
• Highways Projects
• IT
• Education/Academies
• Wholly Owned Companies
• Waste Services

You will also provide advice on procurement law and potential challenges. Knowledge of commercial legal practice, risk based decision making and local authority trading models is desirable. You will review and comment on reports to the Council committees and advise on Council decision making processes. Prior experience of commercial contract (and public contract) work; and previous experience in advising on public sector procurements in a local authority context or otherwise would be desirable.

The role is diverse with no one day the same, for more information on the role please view the “In this job you will” section in the attached JDPS document.

ABOUT YOU

You will have:

• An excellent working knowledge of commercial law together with an innovative, commercial approach to ensuring the delivery of a high-quality legal service.
• the ability to work as part of a team and be flexible, enthusiastic and committed as the role will involve providing support to the senior lawyers in the team whilst managing your own caseload
• excellent communication skills, be able to work under pressure and to prioritise your workload to meet tight deadlines.
• the ability to work collaboratively with project teams and client departments to ensure good client relations.
• excellent drafting skills, the ability to provide concise and clear advice, negotiate and carry out legal research and analysis.
• The ability and willingness to expand your legal skills and apply yourself to novel areas of the team’s work which may not be currently within your own expertise.

You will be required to provide training to clients and stakeholders as required.

Experience gained in a Local Authority setting would assist as would a sound understanding of local government and administrative law, and an appreciation of the challenges facing local authorities is key to the role.

You will supervise colleagues in the Legal Service as appropriate.

To find out more about our essential and desirable criteria for the role please view the “In this job you will” section in the attached JDPS document.

QAQC4060- Senior Lawyer ( Place) JD PS.pdf

Cheshire East is an amazing place to live and work. As one of the largest employers in the borough, we are able to offer you a wide range of challenging and rewarding career opportunities.

At Cheshire East Council we are working for a brighter future – together and our commitment to you is that our workplace culture will provide a shared purpose, a well-led organisation with valued people succeeding together as one team and one council to deliver the best service for our customers and communities.

If you want to be part of our award-winning council and contribute to our ongoing success, have the flexibility and drive to enable us to innovate, are committed to working as part of a team and striving to deliver exceptional service wherever you can, we would especially like to hear from you.

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our local communities so that we can all work for a brighter future – together.

Brighter Future

Employee benefits (cheshireeast.gov.uk)

WHAT WE GIVE IN RETURN

• ENHANCED ANNUAL LEAVE – 34 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) from day 1, increasing up to 39 days after only 5 years’ service
• ENHANCED PUBLIC PENSION – A career average pension (contributions built at a rate of 1/49th of your yearly pensionable pay
• FLEXIBLE WORKING PATTERN – 37-hour standard full time working week with flexi time and hybrid/remote working arrangements
• PURCHASE OF ANNUAL LEAVE – The ability to purchase up to 10 days’ extra annual leave each year in addition to your normal annual leave entitlements (this is pro-rata for part time staff)
• CYCLE TO WORK SCHEME – Receive Income Tax and National Insurance savings of up to 25-39% off the retail price of the bike and safety equipment package (savings dependent on the value of your chosen package and your tax status
• EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME – A completely free to use and confidential assistance service for all employees to help staff manage, reduce and overcome the impact of life issues which they may experience from time to time, both within work and their personal life
• PAID VOLUNTEER LEAVE – Up to two days paid leave per year to volunteer for local organisations in the borough of Cheshire East
• VIRGIN MEDIA AND O2 DISCOUNTS – Exclusive discounts on Virgin Media Broadband and O2 pay monthly plans.
• DISCOUNTED GYM MEMBERSHIPS – Access to corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure which includes:

• Gym, Swim and Group Fitness at all 16 facilities

• Off-Peak Racket Sports

• Athletics Tracks

• Sauna/Steam/Spa

To find out more about our rewards and benefits package, please click here

ABOUT US

Cheshire East is an amazing place to live and work. As one of the largest employers in the borough, we can offer you a wide range of challenging and rewarding career opportunities. At Cheshire East Council we are working for a brighter future – together and our commitment to you is that our workplace culture will provide a shared purpose, a well-led organisation with valued people succeeding together as one team and one council to deliver the best service for our customers and communities.

HOW TO APPLY

If you want to be part of our award-winning council and contribute to our ongoing success, have the flexibility and drive to enable us to innovate, are committed to working as part of a team and striving to deliver exceptional service wherever you can, we would especially like to hear from you. To apply for the role please click apply for this job at the bottom of the page, or, for or an informal chat about the role please contact Adrian Leslie on 01270 686549.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information please contact Adrian Leslie via email; Adrian.leslie@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Cheshire East Council is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults across the Borough. As such, any cautions, convictions, reprimands or final warnings that are ‘not protected’ as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) order 1975 (as amended in 2013) relating to the non-disclosure of spent convictions do not apply to this job. You must, therefore, disclose whether you have any previous convictions where prompted to do so within the application process.

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If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date then it is likely that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion, however please do not be discouraged from applying again.

For any technical enquiries please email sourcingteam@ecwip.co.uk

Please quote job reference number in all correspondence.

Apply for this job at https://jobs.cheshireeast.gov.uk/vacancy/senior-lawyer-contracts-527651.html