At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic legal team, providing agile support on commercial contracts and driving innovative solutions.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking global business based in Manchester with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional growth opportunities, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the legal function integral to business success.
- Qualifications: Qualified legal professional with extensive experience in commercial law and contract negotiation.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of excellence and innovation while working closely with senior stakeholders.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
This is a newly created high-impact role within the Group Global Legal team at my client based in Manchester. As Head of Commercial Legal, you will lead and develop a team of talented legal professionals with a core focus on delivering agile, commercial legal support across our client and supplier contracts, driving smart, scalable solutions for our fast-moving global business and new service lines. You will work closely with the Chief Legal Officer and key senior stakeholders across the Group to deliver practical, commercially oriented legal advice, and contribute to the development of a legal function that is integral to business success.
What We're Looking For
- Qualified legal professional with significant post-qualification experience in commercial law
- Extensive experience negotiating and advising on complex commercial contracts, ideally across multiple jurisdictions, including the USA
- Proven ability to lead and inspire legal professionals (qualified and non-qualified), fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and support
- Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to balance legal risk and business objectives
- A team player who thrives in a collaborative, values-driven environment
- Genuine interest in digitisation, legal operations, and innovation in service delivery
- Outstanding communicator – able to cut through complexity and provide concise, actionable advice
- Culturally aligned, with a down‑to‑earth, can‑do positive attitude and a focus on team contribution
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing commercial legal team, ensuring professional growth and clear delivery standards
- Oversee and drive commercial legal service delivery, with a focus on client and supplier contracts, quality negotiation, and risk management
- Be a trusted legal partner to the business, building strong relationships and delivering pragmatic, solution‑oriented advice
- Continuously improve legal processes, documentation, and templates for scalability and efficiency
- Maintain clear reporting of commercial legal risks in line with Group frameworks
- Manage external counsel effectively to ensure value and alignment with internal goals
- Support the Chief Legal Officer on legal and Group projects as needed
- Champion a legal team culture that is collaborative, dynamic, and focused on enabling the business
If you are a Senior Lawyer or Head of Legal, please get in touch.
Senior Lawyer/Head of Legal in Manchester employer: Astral Legal
Contact Detail:
Astral Legal Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Lawyer/Head of Legal in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the legal field, attend industry events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to commercial law. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or mentors to boost your confidence and refine your answers. Remember, clarity and conciseness are key!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! When discussing your experience, highlight how you've led teams and fostered a culture of excellence. We want to see how you inspire others and drive results, so don’t hold back on those success stories.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Lawyer/Head of Legal in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. Highlight your commercial law expertise and any leadership roles you've held, as we want to see how you can lead our legal team.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention your experience with complex contracts and your passion for innovation in legal services, as these are key for us.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: As an outstanding communicator, you need to demonstrate this in your application. Keep your language clear and concise, and make sure to convey your ability to provide actionable advice, which is crucial for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity within our dynamic team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Astral Legal
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your commercial law knowledge, especially around complex contracts and multi-jurisdictional issues. Be ready to discuss specific cases where you've successfully negotiated contracts or provided legal advice that balanced risk with business objectives.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led and developed a team in the past. Think about how you fostered a culture of excellence and accountability. Highlight any initiatives you took to inspire your team and improve their performance.
✨Be a Problem Solver
Demonstrate your ability to provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice. Bring examples of how you've tackled legal challenges in a fast-paced environment and how you’ve improved processes for efficiency and scalability.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice articulating complex legal concepts in a straightforward manner. The interviewers will be looking for your ability to cut through complexity and deliver concise, actionable advice, so think about how you can showcase this skill during your conversation.