Job Description

Principal Lawyer - Contracts & Procurement Vacancy

Royal Borough of Greenwich: Principal Lawyer - Contracts & Procurement Vacancy Fixed Term - 12 months (with potential to be extended)

PO8 Plus up to 5000 attraction payment dependent upon experience

Ready for your next challenge? Join a role offering real impact, variety, and leadership.

Are you a specialist

Contracts and Procurement Lawyer

with a proven track record in public sector work? Whether you've worked directly in local government or in private practice supporting public sector clients, this is a fantastic opportunity to lead on high-profile legal matters at the

Royal Borough of Greenwich

.



You'll play a vital role in shaping our legal function, embedding the changes from the

Procurement Act

, and supporting service transformation in how we approach contracts and procurement across the Council.

About Royal Greenwich

Royal Greenwich is proud to be a borough synonymous with first-class modern services. A

World Heritage Site

, our communities are vibrant and diverse, and our elected members are ambitious to realise the borough's full potential, even in a challenging financial climate.



Our

Legal Services team

is committed to excellence. We provide essential legal support to help the Council deliver its priorities -- for the benefit of the borough and the communities we serve.

The Role

As

Principal Lawyer (Contracts & Procurement)

, you'll act as the Council's

strategic lead and expert legal adviser

in your area. You'll handle a

complex and varied caseload

, advise senior officers and elected Members, and help shape the legal function as part of a high-performing team.



Reporting to the Assistant Head of Legal Services (Planning & Procurement), you will:


Lead the Council's legal response to changes introduced by the

Procurement Act

. Provide high-quality, solutions-focused legal advice on all contracts and procurement matters. Carry a full caseload of complex and sensitive work involving goods, works and services. Represent Legal Services on commissioning and procurement boards. Support and mentor junior lawyers, helping to build expertise and share best practice. Contribute to the development of new policies and procedures. Oversee external legal advisors and act as the intelligent client. Deputise for the Assistant Head of Legal Services as needed. Provide legal advice to committees, Councillors, and senior leadership.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for an experienced and proactive legal professional with:

A current practising certificate

as a solicitor, barrister, or chartered legal executive (FILEX). Strong experience in

public sector contracts and procurement

, either in-house or in private practice with relevant clients. Excellent legal drafting, negotiation and communication skills. The ability to lead and manage legal work across teams and projects. A passion for mentoring junior staff and helping others to grow. A proactive and collaborative approach to working across services and external partners. A commitment to improving standards and delivering value for our community.

What We Offer

At Royal Greenwich, we invest in our staff and celebrate success. You'll benefit from:

29 days annual leave

, rising to 32 after 5 years' service.

Excellent local government pension scheme

.

Agile and hybrid working

arrangements.

Commitment to your learning and development

.

Annual season ticket loan

.

Cycle to Work Scheme

.

Childcare Vouchers

. A professional, values-led environment where your contribution matters.

How to Apply

Applications will be scored based on how well the

Supporting Statement

addresses the

Person Specification

. Please clearly demonstrate your experience and alignment with the essential criteria.

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Emma Newby; emma.newby@royalgreenwich.gov.uk 020 8921 4002

If you require any assistance in viewing or accessing this opportunity, please contact

recruitment@royalgreenwich.gov.uk

or call 020-8921-8977

Diversity Statement:

Royal Borough of Greenwich values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this. We therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community.

High Volume Applications:

Royal Borough of Greenwich reserves the right to close any vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date should there be a high volume of applications received.

Advert Close:

All vacancies close at midnight unless otherwise stated.

Full Employment History:

A full employment history is required for this role. Please provide a full employment history, together with a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps in employment.

How Applications are Scored:

Each application is scored according to how well the supporting statement addresses each point on the Person Specification for the role. Candidates will be short-listed for interview on the extent to which they meet the specific points within the Person Specification. The Person Specification is supplied with the job advert. When completing your application, please use the supporting statement section to tell us how you meet each of the points on the Person Specification. We need to have this information in order to consider your application.

Salary:

Salaries advertised are for a standard working week of 35 hours unless otherwise stated. Please use this 'Salary Calculator to help you calculate a pro rata salary.

Our Staff Values:

Our Staff Values are important to us. Candidates will be continuously assessed against our staff values throughout the recruitment process. Where candidates demonstrate views and behaviours that do not meet the standards of our staff values, we reserve the right to reject their application/ registration.



Organisation
Royal Borough of Greenwich
Reference
REC/25/00334
Salary Details
61980 - 65478
Additional Allowances
up to 5000 attraction payment dependent upon experience.
Location Postcode
SE18 6HQ
Job Term and Hours per Week
Fixed Term; 35
Closing Date
18 June 2025