Legal Counsel in Slough

Who we are:

ALTEN, an engineering and technology consultancy, We are a leading Engineering and IT consultancy operating across 30 countries, making waves in all sectors: Aeronautics, Space, Defence, Security and Naval, Automotive, Rail and Mobility, Energy and environment, Life Sciences and Health, Industrial Equipment and electronics, Telecoms, Banking, Finance & Insurance, Retail, Services & Medias, Public Services & Government. With a team of passionate, diligent, and agile engineers, we are united by a common purpose: building tomorrow’s world today. Day by day, we support our customers' development strategies as well as their technological and sustainability transformation.

Role Overview

As a key member of the UK Legal team and under the supervision of the team Coordinator, you will be responsible for safeguarding legal compliance and minimizing legal risks for ALTEN Group’s UK operations. You will act as a trusted business partner, providing expert legal guidance across a wide range of operational matters, ensuring the Group’s activities comply with relevant laws and internal policies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contract Review & Analysis: Lead the review and analysis of contracts to identify potential legal risks, obligations, and liabilities. Offer strategic legal advice to mitigate risks, ensure compliance with laws and regulations, and align contracts with the Group’s policies. Manage the end-to-end process of contract negotiations, review, and approval using relevant tools. Support bid processes for new customers and projects.

• Contract Recordkeeping: Maintain an organized and accurate record of all contracts and legal documentation, ensuring full compliance with internal record-keeping standards and utilizing the Group’s Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system.

• Strategic Legal Support: Provide legal advice to management on key strategic initiatives, identifying and addressing potential legal challenges early in the decision-making process.

• Legal Process Optimization & Awareness: In collaboration with the Legal team, develop and deliver training programs to raise legal and compliance awareness across the business. Enhance or create legal templates, processes, and procedures to improve the efficiency of the legal function.

• Legal Risk Management: Oversee litigation processes and manage legal risks, ensuring that all relevant matters are addressed with due diligence and in line with the Group’s policies.

• HR Legal Support: Provide legal counsel to HR teams on employment-related matters, including employment contracts, disciplinary procedures, collective labor relations, immigration issues, and other HR legal concerns.

• Reporting & Communication: Ensure clear and consistent reporting of legal matters to senior management and the Group Legal Department. Keep stakeholders informed on legal risks and activities, providing regular updates on key legal matters.

Other responsibilities related to the UK Legal team:

• Governance & Corporate Secretarial: Serve as the corporate secretariat for UK entities, working closely with the Group Legal Corporate Department. Manage delegations of authority, signatures, and contracts for key personnel, ensuring governance standards are upheld. Support the Quality and Information Security teams with review of governing policies and procedures. Support Finance team with legal and compliance queries, including for audit purposes.

• Insurance & Compliance: Work with the Group Insurance Manager to implement and manage ALTEN’s insurance policies across the UK entities. Support the Group Compliance Department in the deployment of the anti-corruption program, data protection program, international trade sanctions, and national security programs.

• M&A Legal Support: Collaborate with the Group M&A team to provide legal support during mergers and acquisitions. Participate in legal due diligence for targets and manage legal integration processes for newly acquired entities.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business Administration, or a related field.

• Experience: A minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience (PQE) as a Generalist Legal Counsel, ideally within the consulting and/or technology sectors, with a focus on business law relevant to ALTEN Ltd/Methods’ activities, as well as an experience in public sector contracts.

• Expertise: Demonstrable knowledge of UK contract law (private and public sector), risk management, Crown Commercial Services Frameworks, and contract negotiations. A solid understanding of IR35, PSCs, and the IT contractor marketplace is essential.

• Skills: Business oriented with strong analytical, problem-solving, and negotiation skills. Ability to summaries and excellent written and verbal communication abilities. Strong team spirit.

This role will require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected. Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.

What we offer:

• Company benefits including Private Medical Healthcare, Life Insurance and Travel Insurance.
• Pension scheme with company contributions up to 6%.
• Hybrid (2 days remote working)
• Wellness 24/7 Confidential employee assistance program.
• Social – Breakfast Tuesdays, Thirsty Thursdays and Pizza on the last Thursday of each month.

Any doubts?

Studies have shown that some groups of people are less likely to apply to a role unless they meet 100% of the job requirements. Whoever you are, if you like one of our jobs, we encourage you to apply as you might just be the candidate we are looking for. As an equal-opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute. Our commitment is to provide equal opportunities, an inclusive work environment, and fairness for everyone.