Head of Legal

Head of Legal
Part time (3 days per week - 2 on-site with 1 from home)
Mid Devon (close to the M5)

About the company
Our client is an established and admired B2B supplier with a national reach, known for its focus on quality, customer service, and reliability. Driven by their values, this highly successful company has gone from strength to strength over several decades and is now one of the leading companies in its sector. The company employs around 300 people and has invested thoughtfully to create a welcoming and enjoyable on-site environment where colleagues feel motivated, valued, and appreciated.

About the role
This newly created role will bring responsibility for all legal matters in-house, ensuring legal compliance across all areas of business operations while providing strategic legal advice to support business objectives. You will have the opportunity to shape and lead the legal function in-house, fully supported and endorsed by the Executive Board, with the role reporting to the Chief Financial Officer. Working part-time across 3 days, with two days being based on-site (close to the M5 in Mid Devon), you will balance a varied workload of legal, compliance, and business regulatory matters. Administrative resources will be made available where needed, and the business appreciates that over time, the team may need to grow as demand increases.

Primary responsibilities include:

1. Commercial Contracts: Providing support to business stakeholders to review, draft, and negotiate contracts and agreements with suppliers, customers, partners, and other third parties. This activity is essential to safeguard the company's interests while ensuring compliance with legal requirements and company policies.
2. Data Privacy & Intellectual Property: Ensuring full compliance with GDPR regulations. Implementing and maintaining data protection policies and procedures. Protecting the organization's Intellectual Property rights through the application of relevant trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets law.
3. Company Secretarial: Liaising with external partners to manage all company secretarial duties including filings, registrations, and compliance with statutory requirements.
4. Employment Law: Working closely with HR colleagues to provide appropriate and timely legal guidance and support on employment law matters.
5. Regulatory: Monitoring regulatory developments relevant to the organization’s industry and advising on regulatory compliance.
6. Other: General Insurance Programme Management, Risk Management Framework, Business Continuity Plan, General Policy & Compliance Ownership & Governance, Training and Education, and Ad-hoc Activities.

What we’re looking for
Our client is seeking an experienced Commercial Lawyer with at least five years’ post-qualification experience in the UK. You might be working within private practice or already in an in-house counsel or similar business-based legal role. Your ability to develop positive relationships with key stakeholders across the business and with external partners will be crucial. You will be warmly welcomed as an important addition to the leadership of the company and can expect to see the impact of your work over a short period of time.

Essential skills include:

• Proven technical knowledge of procurement and supply chain contracts, company secretarial practices, GDPR regulations, and data protection practices.
• Ability to work independently and advise on a variety of matters when needed.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.

Benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Free on-site parking
• Hybrid working
• Private Healthcare Assurance
• Life assurance
• Contributory company pension
• Enhanced sick pay (post probation)

Find Out More…
If you would like to find out more information in confidence and without commitment, please contact Charlotte Ferguson, Recruitment Manager on 01392 712003 or via email at cferguson@cathedralappointments.co.uk.