Job Description

British Geological Survey


Contract Partner


Grade: UKRI - Band E


Salary: 46,743 per annum


Contract Type: Permanent


Hours: Full-time - 37 hours a week (a small amount of remote working is possible, but this role does require regular onsite attendance)


Location: BGS headquarters in Keyworth in Nottingham


Closing date: 23rd November 2025


A great benefits package is offered!, including an outstanding pension scheme (with a generous employer contribution - on average 27% of your pay), 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays!

About the role

BGS is an innovative and world-renowned geoscientific research centre engaged in many exciting and forward-thinking research collaborations both nationally and internationally. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced contracts manager to be involved in contractual negotiations in support of BGS's research activities.

Key duties:

Provide expert legal knowledge to support an increase in our commercial research activity by negotiating and leading on all contracts being undertaken as part of BGS's commissioned income and collaborative research work. Provide legal support to facilitate major national and international geoscientific research and collaboration projects. Drafting "tailored" agreements to meet specific requirements for non-standard research work.

About you

Are you a highly skilled and experienced contracts negotiator and an expert in providing pragmatic legal advice in relation to the undertaking of commercial and collaborative work?


To succeed in this exciting role, you will need to be:


An experienced commercial contracts resource for BGS. Experienced in leading the provision of legal support in all aspects of contractual work. Comfortable with managing your own responsibilities and workload, within an often high-pressured, time-critical legal environment - but at the same time becoming an integral and respected part of the Legal & IPR Team. Adaptable, flexible, and pragmatic with regards to getting sophisticated, sensitive, or non-standard situations in contracts 'over the line.' Must be able to demonstrate robust commercial awareness within the context of BGS's primary status as a research institute. Able to effectively build links both with legal counterparts at the organisations BGS works for/with, as well as with our colleagues in other teams across both operational and scientific functions. There is a vital need to understand the context of research being undertaken and ensure that it is covered within the contract. Able to demonstrate experience of the aims and objectives of research/public sector organisations as well as commercial operations.
There may be a requirement for occasional travel within the UK as required.


The following specific essential and desirable skills criteria for this post will be assessed at shortlist (S) stage, interview (I) stage, or both (S&I).

Essential

Law degree or other degree with relevant legal/commercial contracts experience and qualifications (S) A Substantial amount of experience of dealing with complex legal and contractual processes associated with commercial tender, contract, and research agreement work; including negotiations with clients, with regard to terms and conditions under which contracted or collaborative work is to be undertaken. (S&I) Expert knowledge of business/contract law, including all relevant legislation/regulations. (S&I) Able to manage your own contractual casework within a high pressure, routinely time-critical legal/contractual environment. To include effectively communicating to non-legal colleagues and external organisations. (S&I) A solid understanding of NEC Contracts, which are routinely placed on BGS for consideration, and of licencing agreements. (S&I) You will be committed to a diverse and inclusive approach to work in the geosciences (S&I)

Desirable

Further relevant legal masters degree or other qualifications, e.g. commercial law, contract law, intellectual property rights law. (S) Experience of working within a UK research institute and/or public sector body (or demonstrable experience of routinely working with/for such organisations), including experience of handling commercial contracts (S&I) In-depth understanding of specific legislation/regulations of particular relevance to scientific research community and public sector, e.g. Freedom of Information Act/Environmental Information Regulations; Data Protection legislation; Intellectual Property Rights (S&I)

About The British Geological Survey (BGS)

The British Geological Survey (BGS) is an applied geoscience research centre that is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and affiliated to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). It is a world leading geological survey that provides a core science mission to inform government of science related to the subsurface and its interfaces and also undertakes applied research for solutions to earth and environmental processes, both in the UK and globally. It is funded directly by UKRI as well as through research grants and via private sector contracts.


BGS has an annual budget of approximately 60 million and employs 650 people. It has two main sites, a head office in Keyworth near Nottingham and the Lyell Centre, which is a joint collaboration with Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. BGS works with more than 150 private sector organisations as well as having close links with 40 universities and sponsors approximately 100 PhD students each year.

How to Apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit your CV and a covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for BGS and the role you're applying for. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit your application without a covering letter may result in your application not being considered. You will only be assessed on the content of your CV and covering letter and not the 'experience' section of the application.

About UKRI

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).


Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, and a vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org .


Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI .


The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to flourish and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation .