Legal Counsel – Procurement Lawyer

Job summary

A unique opportunity has arisen to join the In-House Legal Team at United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA). UKHSA’s In-House Legal team is recruiting two specialist lawyers to provide solutions-driven and pragmatic legal advice to UKHSA on all procurement matters including vaccine procurement.

The successful candidate will be a mid-level lawyer with good experience in providing legal advice and good commercial understanding in procurement matters, contract drafting and interpretation.

Working for your organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

The successful candidate will be part of a multidisciplinary in-house Legal team and may be expected to have interest in other areas of law such as income generating agreements, R&D and other collaborative agreements, grant agreements, IP and trademark issues and data privacy and protection and may need to be prepared to cover those areas as and when required, even if outside own expertise. Reliable legal judgement, analysis and appreciation of legal risk.

As a mid-level lawyer within the Legal team, the successful candidate will be expected to be pro-active member of the team, to assist Senior Legal Counsel with ensuring that the processes within the Legal team are fit for purpose and align with the commercial processes within UKHSA.

The successful candidate will be a team-player and will possess strong communication skills. The candidate will be expected to develop good working relationships with colleagues across the agency and work responsively and creatively, be solutions-driven and able to see the bigger picture.

Reporting to UKHSA’s Senior Legal Counsel, the successful candidate will:

• be a mid-level lawyer and play an important role in the UKHSA Legal team in advising UKHSA on all procurement matters
• manage complex and varied caseloads in the area of procurement, contract drafting, interpretation and management, working with internal clients, government lawyers, external law firms and counsel
• play an important co-ordination role when commercial matters involve cross-cutting legal issues for diverse teams in UKHSA, other government departments and third-party organisations
• be expected to contribute to the wider team through playing a proactive role on matters such as knowledge management, training, and various projects
• work closely with a variety of internal stakeholders (both external and internal) to mitigate legal risk in procurement matters
• need to be comfortable working effectively towards short deadlines
• be expected to demonstrate good communication skills
• be expected to work responsively, creatively and be solutions-driven and be able to see the bigger picture
• be flexible in approach to different legal disciplines and willing to take conduct of work outside own expertise

This is not an exhaustive list.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Solicitor or barrister with a good commercial understanding and experience in procurement matters, including contract drafting and interpretation
• Good skills in the effective management of a varied caseload
• Reliable legal judgement, analysis and appreciation of legal risk and the confidence to give persuasive and balanced risk-based advice
• Solutions-orientated with a commercial focus and be able to think strategically and creatively and see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly in an agile way and be able to work at pace
• Persuasive written and verbal communication and advisory skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with those who may be unfamiliar with legal processes/strategies
• Sound analysis, using secure legal research to produce timely and fit for purpose advice
• Demonstrate positive client service by understanding the complexity and diversity of client’s needs and expectations
• Proactively manage risks and identify solutions.
• Communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way in order to build trust
• Explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand
• Take into account people’s individual needs
• Deliver difficult messages with clarity and sensitivity, being persuasive when required
• Build strong interpersonal relationships and show genuine care for colleagues
• Create an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are taken into account and bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable
• Remain available and approachable to all colleagues

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,276 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and experience.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed essential criteria and this will be in the form of:

• an application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a 1000 word supporting statement

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000 words.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

Please note only those applications meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Solicitor or barrister with a good commercial understanding and experience in procurement matters, including contract drafting and interpretation.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.

Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a remote interview.

Behaviours and experience will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Interview dates are to be confirmed.

Feedback will be provided at this stage.

Location

This role is being offered as home-based / remote.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum with willingness and capability to work towards Security Check (SC) clearance.

You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting at this higher level and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Salary information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location:

Administrative Officer (AO)

• £25,651-£27,220 (National)
• £27,335 -£28,442 (Outer London)
• £29,613-£30,266 (Inner London)

Executive Officer (EO)

• £28,547- £33,196 (National)
• £30,441- £35,576 (Outer London)
• £32,624-£37,737 (Inner London)

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

• £33,422-£40,731 (National)
• £35,587- £43,244 (Outer London)
• £37,749- £45,353 (Inner London)

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

• £41,983- £48,128 (National)
• £44,148- £50,121 (Outer London)
• £46,310- £52,113 (Inner London)

Grade 7

• £56,185- £66,581 (National)
• £58,340- £68,574 (Outer London)
• £60,494- £70,566 (Inner London)

Grade 7 Upper

• £64,317-£66,581 (National)
• £66,497- £68,574 (Outer London)
• £68,626- £70,566 (Inner)

Grade 6

• £70,797-£81,450 (National)
• £72,950- £83,443 (Outer London)
• £75,104- £85,436 (Inner London)

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police Check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Jon Payne
• Email : jonathan.payne@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk