Legal Counsel (Commercial & Procurement) in Abingdon

The UK Government has established UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) Ltd, a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the charge in delivering fusion energy through design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKFE is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing of the STEP prototype. Fusion energy, crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, is expected to be commercially viable by mid-century. The UK, led by UKFE, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Fusion Energy Ltd. will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year.

As an employee of UKFE, you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a relocation allowance (if eligible)
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays
• Wide range of career development opportunities
• A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive

The salary for this role is £64,115 + excellent benefits including outstanding pension. This position is based at Culham, Oxfordshire.

Job Description: As Legal Counsel, you will become a trusted advisor to stakeholders across Commercial, Procurement, Programme Delivery, Engineering, Finance and Corporate Services. You'll provide commercially focused legal advice, helping teams navigate risk, negotiate complex agreements and deliver strategically important projects with confidence. Working in a fast-paced and collaborative environment, you will support the full contract lifecycle, from procurement strategy and tender development through to contract negotiation, delivery and dispute resolution.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Providing practical, commercially focused legal advice on a broad range of contractual and programme delivery matters
• Supporting strategic procurement exercises, tender evaluations and contract negotiations
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a variety of commercial agreements, including supplier contracts, consultancy agreements, framework agreements, NDAs and collaboration arrangements
• Advising on key contractual issues including liability, intellectual property, confidentiality, data protection, insurance and governance
• Identifying legal and procurement risks early and developing pragmatic, delivery-focused solutions
• Supporting compliance with procurement legislation, internal governance requirements and regulatory obligations
• Assisting with dispute management, supplier performance issues, contract variations and other complex commercial matters
• Contributing to the continuous improvement of legal processes, templates, guidance and training materials
• Building strong relationships across the organisation and acting as a trusted business partner

About You: We're looking for a proactive and commercially minded lawyer who enjoys solving complex problems and working closely with non-legal colleagues. You’ll bring:

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or equivalent legal qualification
• Significant experience advising on commercial contracts and procurement matters
• Strong drafting, negotiation and stakeholder management skills
• The ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical advice
• Sound judgement and a balanced, risk-based approach to decision making
• Experience supporting large-scale projects, infrastructure, engineering, public sector or regulated environments would be advantageous
• Knowledge of procurement legislation and procurement-related governance processes is desirable
• An interest in innovation, technology or major programme delivery would be beneficial

Why Join Us? At UKFE, you'll help enable one of the UK's most exciting scientific and engineering endeavours. You'll work alongside experts across multiple disciplines, influencing decisions that support the delivery of a world-leading fusion programme. In return, you'll enjoy:

• Meaningful work with real-world impact
• Exposure to complex, high-value commercial projects
• A collaborative and inclusive culture
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• The chance to contribute to the future of clean energy

If you're looking for a role where you can combine legal excellence with purpose-driven work, we'd love to hear from you.

Qualifications:

Essential:

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales, or equivalent legal qualification, with a current practising certificate or professional registration where required
• Experience advising on commercial contracts and contract law, gained in-house, in private practice or in a comparable legal environment
• Strong commercial contract drafting, review and negotiation skills
• Ability to provide clear, concise and pragmatic legal advice to non-legal stakeholders
• Sound judgement, including the ability to balance legal risk with commercial and programme delivery objectives
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and know when to escalate
• Ability to manage a complex and varied workload effectively
• Curiosity and learning agility, including the ability to get up to speed quickly in unfamiliar legal, commercial or technical areas

Beneficial:

• Experience supporting public procurement activity or advising on procurement-related issues
• Familiarity with the Procurement Act 2023, Public Contracts Regulations 2015, Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 and other procurement regulations
• Experience in infrastructure, energy, engineering, construction, technology, research and development, and/or public sector environments
• Experience supporting complex, multi-party contracts, collaborations or partnership arrangements
• Experience working in an in-house legal team or closely with business teams
• Interest in energy, fusion, or large-scale innovation programmes

Additional Information: We welcome applications from under-represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. Our Executive team actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. UKFE is committed to being accessible. Please email talent@ukifs.uk if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. Whilst not required at this time, there is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future.

As we work towards our mission and goals, guided by our principles, STEP has six behaviours that are intended to capture the spirit of how we work:

• We champion safety
• We all matter
• We act as one
• We embrace change
• We are pioneering
• We deliver