Legal Counsel in Manchester

We are seeking a qualified Commercial Lawyer with demonstrable post-qualification experience to join our team. This role involves drafting and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements, including standard terms of business, NDAs, MoUs, preliminary transaction agreements, and bespoke services and supply-side agreements.

Ideally, you will have experience working in-house or on secondment and be capable of quickly integrating into a small legal team providing comprehensive legal support to a rapidly expanding and dynamic civil nuclear business involving development, engineering, and design activities for SMR technology.

• Working with the Senior Legal Counsel and Head of Legal to draft and prepare a broad range of Supply Chain agreements including for design and engineering services, partnering future supply contracts and arrangements, and licensing and confidentiality agreements in support of the Business's industrialisation and supply chain strategies.
• Providing, as directed, legal counsel and guidance to internal stakeholders on contractual matters, including identifying and mitigating legal risk and ensuring compliance with the Business's internal governance framework and laws and regulations.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams such as supply chain, procurement, commercial, finance and/or engineering/programme/operations, to ensure contractual terms align with business objectives, draft and negotiate favourable terms, and resolve contract-related disputes in a timely and efficient manner.
• Drafting legal documents, policies, procedures and correspondence including template contracts, NDAs and data addendums, document preparation for closing and signing, proofreading and document review.
• Reviewing contracts, including documenting key contractual clauses and summarising key legal risks, preparing legal research including presenting findings and preparation of presentations (including PowerPoint), minutes, spreadsheets and reports.

• Qualified lawyer with the right to work and eligible to practice in the UK.
• Good academic credentials and post-qualification experience.
• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills across a broad range of commercial agreements.
• Strong commercial understanding, pragmatic approach, and outstanding interpersonal skills.

You’ll be joining a forward-thinking organisation that values transparency, fairness, and innovation. We offer:

• A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.
• A culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is important to us, and as a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive, and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. But we’ll let you in on a secret: there’s no such thing as a 'perfect' candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you. Also, if you are considering a career move or a sector-jump, please get in touch – we welcome applications from people with transferable skills.

Due to the safety regulations within the nuclear industry, applicants will be required to participate in additional screening. These are:

• Obtaining Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance
• Satisfactory completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Satisfactory completion of a basic financial probity check

We are Rolls-Royce SMR. A career with Rolls-Royce SMR offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an exciting organisation delivering a transformational mission. Rolls-Royce SMR is a radically different approach to proven nuclear technology. Each Rolls-Royce SMR power station will generate 470MW of low-carbon energy - equivalent to more than 150 onshore wind turbines and enough to power a million homes for over 60 years. With its Rolls-Royce SMRs will play a vital role in supporting renewable energy by helping to overcome intermittency and ensure a stable, sustainable energy future.

We’re proud to be one of the few employers that can genuinely say we’re a strengths-based organisation. Our people are here because of what makes them exceptional - and our role is to help them make the most meaningful contribution of their careers, doing work they love. We offer opportunities that go beyond traditional career paths. At Rolls-Royce SMR you can develop your career by exploring roles and challenges that align with your unique talents.

At Rolls-Royce SMR, we are committed to ensuring that our teams reflect the communities we serve and that everyone can be themselves at work. We know that diverse teams are more innovative and get better results, and that our people can thrive and be more successful in truly inclusive cultures. Join us and help shape our culture.

You’ll be joining a forward-thinking organisation that values transparency, fairness, and innovation. We offer:

• A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.
• A culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is important to us, and as a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive, and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone can thrive.

At Rolls-Royce SMR, our reward offering is focused on recognising you for your efforts and motivate you to continue achieving. Our rewards and benefits scheme are designed for employees to have complete control. By providing complete autonomy, you can focus on what’s important to you. Whether it’s investments, insurances or wellbeing, it’s in your hands.

Work is an activity, not a place. We understand due to commitments and lifestyle; the world of work has evolved beyond the 9 - 5. Whether its varied hours or hybrid working, our flexible working arrangements make it possible for employees to achieve a true work life balance.

At Rolls-Royce SMR, we don’t just want you to contribute, we want you to grow. We have open dialogue with our employees to understand the ambitions for their career and set plans to achieve them. Whether it’s helping you obtain formal qualifications or pairing you with a mentor, Rolls-Royce SMR will provide you with a fulfilling career.

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