Legal Counsel in Woking

Location: Living Planet Centre, Woking, Surrey

Contract: Permanent, full time (35 hours)

Hybrid working: Minimum 40% in person collaboration per month

About the role

We are excited to be recruiting a Legal Counsel to join WWF-UK's Legal, Compliance & Assurance team. WWF-UK is part of the global WWF network, working to address the most pressing environmental challenges facing our planet. The future of our world is in our hands, and the urgency to protect and restore nature has never been greater.

The Legal, Compliance & Assurance team supports WWF-UK to achieve its mission by ensuring the organisation operates within the law, manages risk effectively and maintains strong governance. As Legal Counsel, you will play a key role in helping colleagues across the organisation navigate legal issues and make informed decisions that support our work.

This is a varied in-house role where you will act as a legal business partner to designated teams across WWF-UK. You will provide practical, timely legal advice on a wide range of issues, helping colleagues manage risk while enabling the organisation to deliver its objectives. Your work will include drafting and negotiating contracts across areas such as retail and commercial agreements, fundraising partnerships, supplier contracts and funding agreements with donors and partners. You will also advise on a range of legal and regulatory matters including charity and fundraising law, intellectual property, data protection, advertising and compliance issues.

Alongside day-to-day legal advice, you will contribute to the development of the organisation's legal resources and processes. This may include developing precedents, supporting improvements to contract management systems, delivering training for colleagues and maintaining up-to-date guidance on key legal topics.

Working closely with the Head of Legal & Compliance and the Senior Legal Counsel, you will help ensure WWF-UK has the legal insight and support it needs to deliver its mission while protecting the organisation's interests.

Skills and experience

• Qualified solicitor or barrister holding a current UK practising certificate, or equivalent relevant legal experience
• Strong knowledge and experience in at least two of the following areas: charity or fundraising law, commercial law, or working within an in-house legal environment
• Experience drafting, negotiating and advising on a range of commercial contracts
• Ability to provide clear, practical legal advice in a fast-moving environment
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex legal information and communicate it clearly to non-legal colleagues
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with colleagues across an organisation
• High levels of attention to detail and professional judgement
• Ability to balance risk management with enabling organisational objectives
• Experience working in the charity or not-for-profit sector
• Experience advising on charity law, fundraising regulation or regulatory compliance
• Experience developing legal guidance, precedents or training materials for colleagues
• Experience working collaboratively with procurement teams and external suppliers

What we offer

We believe in rewarding our team with more than just a salary. Here’s what you can expect:

• Annual leave starting at 26 days a year, rising one day each year to 31 days plus bank holidays
• Flexible working options, to support your work-life balance
• 7.5% employer contribution to pension, rising to 10% with employee contribution
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow
• Regular wellbeing initiatives to support your health and happiness.

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

This role is hybrid with a minimum 40% of your contracted hours spent at our beautiful UK head office, the Living Planet Centre in Woking, Surrey, where you’ll hot desk among trees and gardens.

About WWF-UK

We’re a global conservation charity with millions of supporters and hundreds of projects around the world. At WWF-UK, we’re bringing our world back to life. Protecting what’s left isn’t enough. We’re racing to restore nature and prevent catastrophic climate change. And it’s a race we can win with everyone’s help. We’re courageous, passionate, and driven by science. For more than 60 years we’ve been at the forefront of global efforts to protect wildlife and the natural world. We work with integrity, collaboration and deep respect for those we partner with.

How to apply

Click the link to apply via our website. You’ll be asked to complete an application form and upload your CV and a supporting statement that tells us why you’ll be a great addition to WWF-UK.

Our Diversity Promise to You

At the heart of our mission is a simple truth: the planet needs everyone. That means you – in all your uniqueness, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or how you choose to express yourself. We don’t do stereotypes. We work together with purpose, driven by passion and enhanced by respect, courage, and integrity. We pull together from all walks of life to fight for a better future, and we want you to feel supported every step of the way. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities. So, if there’s anything we can do to make your application or interview experience more comfortable or accessible, just give our Talent Acquisition Team a shout at recruitment@wwf.org.uk

Safeguarding Commitment

Just as we celebrate diversity in all its forms, we are equally dedicated to creating a safe environment for every person we work with or encounter. Our commitment extends to children, adults at risk, and individuals experiencing any form of vulnerability, whether temporary or permanent. We proudly stand behind CAPSEAH (Common Approach to Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment) and put this commitment into action through clear policies, thorough training, and recruitment checks tailored to each role, which may include external vetting. If you ever have a concern, however big or small, know that there are confidential channels ready to support you at WWF-UK. We promise to respond promptly and with care, because protecting every individual is at the heart of everything we do.