Head of Legal

Location – Bexhill – Hybrid – 1/2 days per week

Welcome to Hastings Direct – From our Group HR Director Pam Angel

We are a digital insurance provider with ambitious plans to become the best and biggest in the UK market. Over the past few years, we\’ve invested heavily in our data and tech capabilities, alongside nurturing our 4Cs culture. We are proud of our journey and recognize that our continued success depends on our talented colleagues.

We serve over three million customers and see even greater opportunities ahead. If you\’re reading this, we\’ve piqued your interest— we hope you like what you see and will consider joining us for this exciting chapter.

We understand some may hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. If you\’re excited about the role and believe you have some of the desired qualities, we\’d love to hear from you, even if you\’re not 100% sure.

Role Overview

This role will support the Chief Legal Officer across all duties of the Group Legal department, with specific responsibilities including:

• Setting and executing strategic and operational legal services for the business
• Prioritizing and allocating work within the legal team
• Ensuring legal resources are skilled and supporting performance management of team members
• Negotiating and advising on complex contractual, project, and legal issues, with a focus on data, IT, general insurance, intermediaries/brokers (personal lines), claims, and outsourced services

Job Requirements – Demonstrable Experience Needed

• Managing and reviewing the Legal Department\’s work, delegating responsibilities appropriately
• Evaluating operational procedures, resources, and legal advice to improve service delivery
• Developing and training legal personnel, setting performance and development goals, and addressing deficiencies
• Supporting legal education programs for colleagues
• Keeping the company informed about new laws and regulations
• Drafting and negotiating commercial contracts and advising on policy terms
• Handling sensitive legal inquiries, including litigation and regulatory communication
• Supporting the Chief Legal Officer with additional duties as assigned

Essential Skills and Experience

• Experience managing an in-house legal team and supporting legal operations
• Strong commercial experience in drafting and negotiating contracts, especially data (PII) and software contracts
• Ability to build stakeholder relationships across the business
• Proficiency in Office applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and MS Teams

Interview Process Update

Our process includes:

• Recruiter screening call
• Initial interview with the hiring leader
• Second interview with the leader\’s superior

We are a Disability Confident employer committed to inclusive recruitment. Applicants can request support and adjustments during the process. We do not sponsor for this role.

Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary and £6k car allowance, benefits include:

• Flexible hybrid working—discuss details with your recruiter
• Annual performance bonus based on the 4Cs
• Private Medical Insurance (PMI) for physical wellbeing
• Life assurance (4x salary), income protection, and pension contributions up to 10%
• Additional perks like discounts, cashback, mortgage advice, financial wellbeing support
• Mental health programs, including Thrive app, support helplines, and in-house first aiders
• Additional leave options, healthcare plans, dental, cycle schemes, onsite facilities, social events, and more

Join us to experience a different approach—focused on our colleagues, customers, company, and community. We support your growth with training and development aligned with our 4Cs principles, fostering a culture of doing things right for everyone involved. #J-18808-Ljbffr