In-House Legal Counsel (Solicitor) in Chorley

NSG Environmental Ltd has been delivering work programmes in the nuclear industry for over 40 years. Traditionally in the areas of decommissioning and waste management, NSG now has a broad customer base and provides a wide spectrum of services across the nuclear project lifecycle, ranging from expert consultancy support, R&D and engineering design to rekit and refurbishment, site installation services and high-hazard physical decommissioning works, amongst others. This work is delivered at NSG’s own offices and purpose-built facilities and nuclear sites across the UK. The delivery and management of these projects and programmes of work is carried out by a skilled workforce composed of both white-collar and blue-collar personnel in technical, administrative, and physical roles. Our core values of Passion, Integrity, Challenge and Collaboration drive performance and ensure we add significant value. If joining us as a member of staff, we will support your professional development in an exciting and challenging work environment that will enable you to use, develop and hone your technical expertise in a supportive and collaborative working environment.

The Role

A qualified solicitor working as a key member of the NSG Commercial Function and reporting to the Head of Commercial, having specific responsibility for:

• Providing clear, pragmatic, professional legal advice on legal matters to stakeholders at all levels across the business.
• Contract management, with a focus on the NEC3 and NEC4 suites of contracts, including drafting and negotiating contracts and subcontracts, along with providing advice and guidance to the Project Delivery teams.
• Bid Support, including reviewing and negotiating of contracts with clients and response writing where appropriate.
• Line management responsibilities for other members of the Legal Team.
• Supporting professional development within the business, both within the Legal Team and the Commercial Function, and throughout the wider business.
• Carrying out legal activities professionally, ethically and in-line with NSG’s company policies and procedures, to support the commercial integrity of the business.
• Living the NSG values and promoting the culture and behaviours within the Legal Team and the wider business.

Key Objectives

Legal Support

• Take ownership of legal tasks required by the business and provide a professional and effective legal service to the business.
• Provide clear and pragmatic advice on legal matters at all levels of the business from bid and project delivery teams to NLT and Directors.
• Take both legal and commercial factors into account to provide considered advice to support informed decision making.
• Understand the company’s commercial position (red lines) and use this knowledge when drafting and negotiating contracts and other legal documentation.
• Provide direction, guidance and decision making as required to support the work of the Legal Team, the Commercial Function, and the wider business.
• Problem solve legal issues that have been escalated by the Legal team, Commercial Function, and the wider business and provide recommendations and advice for solutions.
• Ensure consistency and quality of legal documentation across business in line with the appropriate processes and procedures, alongside accurate record-keeping of contracts and associated documents.
• Review and negotiate tender contracts.
• Highlight any legal issues to the Bid Manager, Commercial Manager or Project Manager and draft Commercial Queries.

Draft, review and negotiate:

• NEC3/4 and other framework, contract and/or subcontract agreements,
• Non-disclosure agreements,
• Flow down subcontract agreements,
• Teaming agreements,
• Any other legal documents as may be required from time to time (warranties, vesting certs, IP agreements, etc).

Contract Management

• Work closely with the project delivery business units providing contract support to Project Managers, QS’s and other NSG Stakeholders to protect NSG’s commercial position through project delivery, including:

• Guidance on contract requirements,
• Guidance on contract types,
• Guidance on specific terms in the contract,
• Advice during disputes.

Upstream Contract Management

• Support the review and authorisation of upstream contracts.
• Ensure tender and contract reviews have been completed.
• Interface with the Client if requested by the Project Manager regarding any legal discussions.
• Provide commercial / legal advice and contract interpretation to the Project Managers and QS’s.
• Provide advice to help ensure the contract terms are adhered to.

Downstream Subcontract Management

• Support development of an appropriate subcontract strategy & liaise with the Project Delivery Team as required.
• Advise on the type of contract, flow down of terms from client contracts, incorporation of suitable payment option (fixed price, target etc), suitable terms to support risk management and successful delivery, consideration of vesting certificates, insurances etc.
• Support the QS’s with preparation and negotiation of subcontract documentation as necessary.
• Complete the subcontract review / governance forms as required.
• Provide commercial, legal and contract guidance to Project Managers and QS’s undertaking subcontract management.
• Support the Project Manager or the QS with drafting any instructions or other subcontract communications if requested.

Bid Support

• Provide support to the Head of Bid Delivery and Bid Managers with delivery of individual bids in line with the appropriate processes and procedures to protect our commercial position during tendering.
• Review Tender contracts, provide comments, draft Commercial Queries and review client responses to queries.
• Review non-disclosure agreements and draft flow-down non-disclosure agreements for subcontractors.
• Support Bid Managers in production of commercial bid responses as required / appropriate.
• Support Bid Managers in production of the tender risk register if required.
• Complete the tender review form and attend / present at tender review meetings as required by the Bid Manager.

Line Management

• Line manage other members of the Legal Team.
• Mentor, supervise and guide others within the Legal Team, while fostering professional development, including signing off qualifying work experience where appropriate.
• Delegate tasks to SQEP members of the Legal Team as required.

Personal Attributes

• Carry out legal activities professionally, ethically and in-line with NSG’s company policies and procedures, to support the commercial integrity of the business.
• Live the NSG values and promote the culture and behaviours within the Legal Team and the wider business.
• Engage and motivate relevant stakeholders (including team, client, directors, other support functions etc.)
• Collaborate with other Commercial Function Leads, Heads of Functions and Business Units as required.
• Commit to continuous improvement of business processes by identifying areas for improvement within the Commercial Function and the commercial processes, and by delivering the appropriate improvements with agreement of the relevant stakeholders.
• Support professional development and training, both within the Legal Team and the Commercial Function, and throughout the wider business.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• A relevant university degree or professional qualification - essential
• Membership of appropriate professional body - essential
• IOSH Working Safely or Level 2 Health & Safety in the Workplace or equivalent - Relevant training will be provided if required

Experience & Knowledge

• High level of knowledge and understanding of contracts and contract management - essential
• High level of knowledge and understanding of the NEC3 or NEC4 suites of contracts or experience working on construction related projects - essential
• Experience of reviewing, drafting and negotiating contracts and/or subcontracts - essential
• Experience of reviewing, drafting and negotiating other legal agreement (e.g. Non-Disclosure Agreements, Parent Company Guarantees etc.) - essential
• Experience of working within a commercial / legal environment and dealing with confidential and commercial information - essential
• Experience of commercial litigation - desirable
• Experience & Knowledge of ISO 9001 / 14001 & 45001
• Experience of supporting bid delivery or tendering activities - desirable
• Experience of line management and / or mentoring others - desirable

Skills & Abilities

• Well organised with the ability to work to deadlines and prioritise own work - essential
• Ability to consistently demonstrate a high level of attention to detail and a “right first time” approach - essential
• Ability to communicate clearly and confidently with a wide range of stakeholders and present complex topics so they can be easily understood - essential
• Ability to work both as part of a team and independently - essential
• Ability to take a pragmatic approach to problem solving and providing advice - essential
• Ability to plan, estimate and write for bids - desirable

Package - Staff only

• Life Assurance 3x Salary
• Pension – Company contributes 5% Individual contributes 4%
• Discretionary bonus
• 187.5 hours per year holiday allowance
• Professional memberships covered
• Large Training and Development budget available.

NSG Environmental are a Disability Confident Committed Employer.