Senior Legal Counsel

Remarkable people, trusted by clients to design and advance the world. Wood has an excellent opportunity for Senior Legal Counsel to join us in September on a 12 month contract. The role operates across a broad spectrum of legal matters on a multi-jurisdictional basis, requiring significant experience, autonomy and professional judgement including complex contracting and contract interpretation, litigation and disputes, joint ventures, employment, compliance, real estate, IP / innovation and strategic transactions. The role offers hybrid working from either our Aberdeen or Reading offices.

The role is responsible for delivering precise, commercial, timely and cost-effective legal counsel advice on complex, material and high-risk matters, including those with potential or actual legal or reputational implications. You will support the relevant geographic regions in achieving their short- and long-term strategic priorities through effective legal risk management, sound judgement and cost discipline, and contribute actively to the leadership and development of the Eastern Hemisphere Legal team.

Wood delivers solutions across more than 60 countries with local offices covering all major energy and materials hubs globally. For more than 160 years, we have partnered with clients to deliver engineering, advisory and operational solutions to some of the world’s most complex and critical challenges in energy and materials.

What We Can Offer

• Meaningful and interesting projects supporting green hydrogen and fuel switching, as well as local clients with energy transition
• Flexible working arrangements with hybrid options
• Diversity and Inclusion commitment; active employee networks giving all employees a voice
• Competitive salary with regular salary reviews
• Flexible benefits package; 33 days annual leave (including public holidays), contributory pension, private medical cover, 4x base salary life insurance
• Continued professional development with tailored development plans
• Global connections with experts at the leading edge of the industry

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of legal advice, governance and compliance across assigned regions or matters, acting as the legal adviser on complex issues
• Manage complex disputes and litigation, including strategy development, instruction and supervision of external counsel, budget control and resolution planning
• Ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of legal counsel, support, governance and compliance, including project management of external legal service provider engagement and related budgets
• Perform complex legal analysis and problem solving, research, counsel and guidance, including effective communication
• Provide clear, pragmatic and commercially grounded advice to senior stakeholders for informed decision-making in ambiguous or high-pressure situations
• Maintain matter and cost management databases
• Develop understanding of legal risks and costs, including risk anticipation and mitigation strategies
• Provide oversight of functional legal risk and management, proactively identifying and managing legal risk and compliance
• Communicate and deliver strategic legal and compliance initiatives as required
• Project management of strategic litigation / disputes
• Manage current and new vendor relationships with a focus on continuous improvement
• Share knowledge with other members of the legal team to support development
• Support the creation of a cohesive team and organisational culture based on values and excellence in delivery
• Capture lessons learned and contribute to progressive learning programmes within the legal team
• Model Wood’s behaviours and ensure compliance with applicable laws and Wood’s standards and policies
• Provide support to other BUs or Groups as required

Qualifications

• Education and qualification as a lawyer, solicitor, barrister or equivalent
• Valid/current law license
• Post-qualified experience in-house or private practice
• Strong commercial acumen and legal/analytical skills (negotiation, drafting, knowledge)
• Time management, IT skills
• Corporate governance and decision making
• Awareness of regulatory changes and industry trends
• Complex legal analysis and problem solving
• Implementing effective legal training regime
• Experience across multiple legal practice areas (e.g., commercial, dispute resolution, real estate, compliance and IP)

Personal Attributes

• Model Wood’s values with integrity and respect for others
• Energy and compassion
• Humility balanced with self-confidence
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate at all levels
• Problem solving and sound judgment with timely analyses
• High integrity and dependability with urgency and results-orientation
• Forward-thinking with the ability to see the big picture
• Creativity in achieving challenging objectives
• Flexibility to adapt to new challenges
• Fluency in English
• Commitment to continuous learning and development

Ability To Deliver consistently to stakeholders

• Drive smarter, more sustainable solutions
• Build trust through open, ongoing communication
• Champion innovation and change to improve quality and effectiveness
• Work effectively across cultures with a global mindset
• Foster a customer-focused climate that delivers on expectations
• Explain complex legal issues clearly and concisely
• Meet deadlines and provide professional service

Wood is a global leader in consulting and engineering, operating in 45 countries with around 25,000 employees. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All suitably qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on objective criteria without regard to race, colour, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other characteristics in accordance with governing laws.