At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead legal management of public sector contracts and provide practical legal advice.
- Company: Join VE3, a dynamic technology supplier in the public sector.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with senior stakeholders and develop your legal expertise.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping public sector contracts and advising on key legal matters.
- Qualifications: Solicitor qualified in England and Wales with significant public sector contract experience.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
Head of Public Sector Legal & Contracts
Experience : 5+ years
Job Type : Full-time
Role overview
VE3 is seeking an experienced public sector contracts lawyer to lead the legal and contractual management of its UK public sector portfolio.
The role will provide practical legal advice across the full contract lifecycle, including tender review, contract negotiation, mobilisation, contract delivery, variations, disputes, renewals and exit.
Strong knowledge of UK public procurement law is required, but only from the perspective of advising VE3 as a supplier.
The role will not advise contracting authorities on procurement routes, procurement strategy or tender design.
The successful candidate will act as VE3’s principal legal adviser for public sector contracts and will coordinate external legal counsel where specialist support is required.
Requirements
Key responsibilities
- Contract review and negotiation
- Review and negotiate public sector framework agreements, call-off contracts, statements of work, managed service agreements and contract schedules.
- Advise on liability, indemnities, warranties, insurance, intellectual property, data protection, confidentiality, audit, termination, exit and TUPE provisions.
- Prepare clear legal-risk summaries and recommendations for senior leadership.
- Ensure agreed clarifications, assumptions and negotiated positions are reflected in the final contract.
- Tender and pre-contract legal support
- Review material tender and contract documentation before submission.
- Identify legal risks, mandatory obligations and potentially onerous commitments.
- Review supplier declarations, subcontracting arrangements and contractual qualifications.
- Check that VE3’s tender response does not create unintended or unsupported commitments.
- Maintain a legal-risk and exceptions register for significant bids.
- Supplier-side procurement law
- Interpret public procurement requirements where they affect VE3 as a bidder or supplier.
- Review framework, call-off and tender documentation.
- Advise on inconsistencies between procurement documents, clarification responses, VE3’s bid and the final contract.
- Review standstill correspondence, evaluation feedback and supplier declarations.
- Advise on exclusion, debarment and disclosure risks.
- Assess the legal implications of contract variations, extensions and scope changes.
- Coordinate external procurement-law advice where a formal challenge or specialist opinion is required.
- Contract support during delivery
- Produce practical contract summaries for delivery and account teams.
- Interpret contractual obligations, dependencies, acceptance criteria and notice requirements.
- Advise whether requested work is within scope or requires a formal change.
- Review material client instructions and contractual correspondence.
- Prevent operational decisions from unintentionally varying the contract or waiving VE3’s rights.
- Variations, notices and disputes
- Review contract variations, extensions, renewals and amendments.
- Ensure material changes are properly documented and approved.
- Draft or review breach, delay, remediation, dispute and termination notices.
- Monitor contractual deadlines and preserve VE3’s rights.
- Lead the internal legal management of contractual disputes.
- Prepare legal assessments, event chronologies and settlement recommendations.
- Manage instructions to external solicitors and counsel.
- Intellectual property, data and technology contracts
- Protect VE3’s background intellectual property, platforms, accelerators, software and reusable components.
- Distinguish VE3-owned materials from client-specific deliverables.
- Review software licensing, cloud, data, artificial intelligence and open-source provisions.
- Review data-processing, confidentiality, information-security and freedom of information clauses.
- Ensure VE3 has appropriate intellectual-property rights from employees, consultants and subcontractors.
- TUPE and subcontracting
- Review TUPE schedules, employee-transfer information and workforce indemnities.
- Coordinate specialist employment-law advice where required.
- Draft and negotiate subcontractor, consultant and partner agreements.
- Ensure relevant client obligations are appropriately flowed down.
- Identify gaps between VE3’s client commitments and supplier or subcontractor obligations.
- Legal governance
- Maintain a central register of public sector contracts, variations, notices and disputes.
- Establish proportionate legal-review and approval processes.
- Develop standard contract-review templates, subcontracting terms and legal precedents.
- Provide contract and legal-risk training to bid, account, transition and delivery teams.
- Coordinate the use of external legal advisers.
- Candidate profile
Essential
- Solicitor qualified in England and Wales, or equivalent relevant legal qualification.
- Significant experience reviewing and negotiating UK public sector contracts.
- Experience advising a technology, professional services, outsourcing or managed-services supplier.
- Strong contract-law, drafting and negotiation skills.
- Practical knowledge of UK public procurement law as it affects suppliers.
- Experience with framework and call-off contracts.
- Experience handling contract variations, notices and disputes.
- Strong knowledge of liability, indemnities, intellectual property, data protection and confidentiality.
- Experience advising senior business and delivery stakeholders.
- Ability to provide practical, proportionate and commercially aware legal advice.
Desirable
- Experience with Crown Commercial Service or other public sector frameworks.
- Experience in central government, local government, NHS, defence or regulated sectors.
- Experience with technology, cloud, data, cybersecurity, software or artificial intelligence contracts.
- Experience with TUPE, supplier exclusion and debarment matters.
- Previous in-house experience with a public sector technology supplier or systems integrator.
Skills and behaviours
• The successful candidate will demonstrate
- Strong legal judgement
- Clear and concise communication
- Practical risk-based decision-making
- Excellent drafting and negotiation
- Confidence working with senior stakeholders
- The ability to challenge constructively
- Strong organisation and attention to detail
- The ability to protect VE3’s position without taking an unnecessarily adversarial approach
Head of Public Sector Legal & Contracts in Maidenhead employer: VE3
At VE3, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous training opportunities and a supportive environment that encourages professional development. Located in a vibrant area, we provide unique advantages such as flexible working arrangements and a strong focus on work-life balance, making VE3 an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the public sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Public Sector Legal & Contracts in Maidenhead
✨Get Involved in Law Societies
Join local law societies and attend their events – they're often a goldmine for networking and job opportunities in the legal field. Plus, it’s a great way to meet other budding lawyers and experienced solicitors who could provide vital insights and connections.
✨Tap into Online Legal Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online platforms like LinkedIn and specific legal forums. Get active in discussions or share your thoughts on recent legal developments – this not only builds your visibility but also showcases your passion and knowledge in law.
✨Attend Career Fairs and Workshops
Look out for career fairs and workshops specifically focused on law. Many law firms, including VE3, will be scouting for fresh talent, so bring your A-game and don’t shy away from making a memorable impression.
✨Leverage Your University’s Career Services
If you’re still in university or have recently graduated, latch onto your career services! They often have connections with law firms looking for graduates and can guide you through the application process tailored for the legal sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Public Sector Legal & Contracts in Maidenhead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Legal Knowledge:When applying for a full-time role in legal services at VE3, make sure to demonstrate your understanding of key legal principles and areas of law relevant to the position. Include any specific coursework, modules, or certifications, like LPC or BPTC qualifications, that showcase your legal expertise directly on your CV.
Showcase Your Research Skills:In the legal field, strong research skills are crucial. Use your application to illustrate how you've utilised these skills in past studies or work experiences – whether that's through past internships or significant projects. Mention any legal databases or tools you’re proficient in, as this can give you an edge.
Tailor That Cover Letter!:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Make it personal by expressing your genuine interest in VE3 and the specific role of Head of Public Sector Legal & Contracts. Talk about why you want to be part of their team, how your unique experiences align with their values, and why you’re passionate about the legal sector.
Stay Formal but Friendly:While we all know the legal world can be pretty formal, don’t be afraid to let a bit of personality shine through in your written application. Use a respectful tone, but feel free to inject a little warmth; this approach can help you stand out and show you're a great fit for VE3’s culture!
How to prepare for a job interview at VE3
✨Know Your Legal Principles
Brush up on foundational legal principles relevant to the specific area of law you’re applying for, whether it’s corporate, criminal, or family law. We might get asked situational questions to test your knowledge, so being articulate about key concepts will make you stand out.
✨Be Ready for Case Studies
Full-time legal roles often involve case studies during interviews. Prepare to analyse a hypothetical case and discuss your approach to it. Practising this with a peer or mentor can help us refine our reasoning and articulate a solid legal argument.
✨Show Off Your Research Skills
As legal professionals, strong research skills are a must. Have examples ready of how you've effectively used legal databases or conducted thorough legal research in your past experiences. It's a great way to demonstrate your readiness for the role at VE3.
✨Exude Professionalism and Confidence
In the legal field, professionalism is key. During the interview, we should maintain good eye contact and communicate clearly to show that we’re not just knowledgeable, but also confident. This can make a positive impression on your potential colleagues at VE3.
