Senior Legal Counsel

About Our Client

Rolls-Royce SMR is a rare employer because it blends the world-class brand of Rolls Royce with an exciting start-up that has a hugely challenging mission. We're doing work that contributes to the survival of the planet. Because of our mission, there's a pace and energy that is palpable, and our leaders draw you in with their passion, energy, and determination.

We're one of a handful of employers who can genuinely say we're a strengths-based organisation - our people are here because of what makes them great, and our job is to help them make the best contribution of their careers doing work they love.

The start-up mentality coupled with our strengths-approach to people means there are opportunities to grow in ways and jobs you probably would be barred from doing in more traditional companies.

Each Rolls-Royce SMR power station will have the capacity to generate 470MW of low carbon energy, equivalent to more than 150 onshore wind turbines and enough to power a million homes. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years, helping to support the roll out of renewable generation and overcome intermittency issues.

Job Description

The purpose of this role is to be Senior Legal adviser to the Business, reporting to Group Head of Legal within the General Counsel Directorate, responsible for supporting customer opportunities including structuring, drafting and negotiation of Rolls-Royce SMR customer contracts, and related ancillary transaction documentation.

We are looking for an individual, possessing sufficient gravitas, with the capability to advise and support the Business from the outset. The right individual must have experience and be able to provide relevant, accurate and timely advice on a variety of legal topics and assignments in respect of domestic and international customer opportunities (including public and private procurements) covering a broad range of commercial agreements and related pre-contractual and associated transaction documentation.

You will be responsible for:

• Drafting and supporting the negotiation of complex, high value customer contracts that deliver strategic commercial priorities and business objectives.
• Providing comprehensive legal advice and support during the pursuit and negotiation of customer contracts and delivery stages of complex, infrastructure projects / transactions that utilise various delivery models across public and private markets.
• Providing legal guidance on, and collaborate across GC Directorate to facilitate, compliance oversight related to negotiation of commercial agreements for the design, delivery, construction and commissioning of major infrastructure projects and implementation of customer transactions in accordance with all relevant applicable laws and regulations and Rolls-Royce SMR's Governance Framework, delegated authorities, policies and procedures.
• Required to advise, support and collaborate with commercial and other relevant functions during drafting and negotiation of complex, high-value, international engineering and supply agreements.

Adaptable, capable of managing a diverse range of legal assignments and a high volume of work, while exercising sound judgment with commercial acumen. Motivated to learn, whilst continuing to operate effectively to support the business including in new or unfamiliar areas of law outside their direct legal specialism but knowing when to seek additional guidance or support.

The Successful Applicant

You will need to be an experienced legal counsel familiar with drafting and negotiating EPC or similar type construction agreements related to design, delivery and implementation of international customer infrastructure projects, or possess relevant transferable background, knowledge and skills.

The ideal candidate will have relevant experience of performing in similar roles (preferably, some experience of working in-house). Candidates are expected to have a good understanding of structuring large-scale infrastructure projects, and the contractual agreements related to them, including the various recognised 'standard forms' of design, engineering, procurement, development or construction contract.

Ability to convey and explain complex legal issues and contracting models succinctly, including identification and mitigation of risk, appropriate to any level of the organisation.You will have:

• 6+ years PQE Solicitor or Barrister, Senior Legal Counsel, with relevant experience in negotiating and drafting construction and commercial agreements.
• A good understanding of process and documentation related to the procurement of large-scale international infrastructure projects and related supply chain
• A good understanding of the principles of risk allocation in projects and construction contracts terms and conditions
• Familiarity with various standard forms of construction contract (NEC, FIDIC, JCT, etc.) and ancillary documentation related to infrastructure projects.
• The ability to support and guide commercial personnel regarding structuring and legal process for a variety of commercial transactions for which you will be responsible, including identification and mitigation of legal, transactional and compliance risk.
• A good understanding of internal corporate governance policy and process to deliver customer transactions on time, to budget in accordance with RR SMR internal governance, board and shareholder approvals.
• Good verbal and written communication, able to advise and explain complex legal issues, principles and process clearly and accurately, using language appropriate to all levels of the organisation.
• Experience of operating in a regulated sector would be helpful.

We would also like to see that you have an interest and aspire to make a difference in the civil nuclear sector, to meet the global Energy challenge and deliver clean affordable energy for all.

Relevant experience having worked in energy, civil engineering, technology or construction sectors would be ideal.

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.

Rolls-Royce SMR is a place where everyone can grow, so whatever background you bring with you, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come into work every day and help shape our culture.

What's on Offer

Successful Senior Legal Counsel will receive:

• Salary between £78,200 - £102,638 per annum, plus:
• Performance related bonus
• Benefits allowance
• Pension - 12% employer and 6% employee contributions.
• Holidays - 28 days holiday (+public holidays) and the ability to buy or sell up to 4 days.
• Private Medical Insurance - BUPA single cover health care
• Life Assurance - 6x pensionable pay
• £250 - One off payment for new started for home office purchases.

This position can offer flexible hours and part-time hours to accommodate individual work-life balance needs. Schedule arrangements can be determined in collaboration with the employee and their line manager to ensure successful job performance and job satisfaction.

• Background checks. As part of our offer process, Rolls-Royce SMR carry out security and financial probity checks on all offered candidates. The security check includes a DBS check. Please note that these are not 'pass' or 'fail' checks and that individual circumstances, as well as where the role sits within the organisation, are taken in to account.