Senior Legal Counsel Life Sciences

Remote, GB, United Kingdom

Job Description

Details


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Reference number




406049

Salary




68,568 - 82,746
Per annum ,Pro rata
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade




Grade 6

Contract type




Permanent

Type of role




Legal Services

Working pattern




Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available




1

Contents


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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location


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Home based

About the job


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Job summary




A unique opportunity to join the In-House Legal Team at United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA). UKHSA's In-House Legal team is actively recruiting a specialist lawyer to provide solutions-driven and pragmatic legal advice to UKHSA.


UKHSA is responsible for protecting every member of every community from the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents and other health threats. We provide intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage, to make the nation's health secure.


We are a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.


UKHSA's mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. To achieve our objectives effectively and fairly, we commit to representing modern Britain and all its diversity. We recognise that diversity of background and life experience brings different insights, creates challenge, and encourages change and innovation. This in turn produces more accountable and trusted public services and better decisions.

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Working for your organisation




We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.


UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Job description



The successful candidate will:



Be senior lawyer with significant experience in providing legal advice on a variety of commercial contracts that arise in the life sciences sector including intellectual property Expected to support UKHSA's scientific teams and business development teams on all contractual and regulatory matters. Be able to manage a complex and varied caseload and work with internal clients, government lawyers, external law firms and counsel, and play an important co-ordination role when commercial matters involve cross-cutting legal issues for diverse teams in UKHSA, other government departments and third party organisations. Be part of a multidisciplinary in-house Legal team and would be expected to have experience and interest in other areas of law such as data privacy and protection, procurement and public health, and be prepared to cover those areas as and when required, even if outside own expertise.

As a senior lawyer within the Legal team, the successful candidate will be expected to be a pro-active member of the team, to assist General Counsel with ensuring that the processes within the Legal team are fit for purpose and align with internal processes within UKHSA, to manage at least one lawyer in the Legal team and to support General Counsel in leading the Legal team as and when required


Be a team-player and will possess strong communication skills. The candidate will be expected to develop good working relationships with colleagues across the agency and work responsively and creatively, be solutions-driven and able to see the bigger picture.

Main responsibilities will include:



Be a senior lawyer with significant experience in providing legal advice on complex and high value commercial contracts in the life sciences sector, in particular on income generating contracts, R&D and other collaborative contracts, grant contracts, IP and trademark issues; Manage complex and varied caseloads including contract drafting, interpretation and management, working with internal clients, government lawyers, external law firms and counsel when necessary; Have experience and interest in other areas of law such as data privacy and protection, procurement and public health, and be prepared to cover those areas as and when required; Play an important co-ordination role when commercial matters involve cross-cutting legal issues for diverse teams in UKHSA, other government departments and third party organisations; Be expected to manage at least one lawyer in the Legal team; Be expected to support the General Counsel in leading the Legal team and assist colleagues in developing their understanding of law in the life sciences sector; Work closely with a variety of internal stakeholders (both external and internal) to reduce the exposure to commercial and litigation risk and to develop realistic contingency plans when such risks materialise; be comfortable about working effectively towards short deadlines; Demonstrate strong communication and leadership skills; Work responsively and creatively and be solutions-driven and able to see the bigger picture; and be flexible in approach to different legal disciplines and willing to take conduct of work outside own expertise where necessary.

Person specification



Essential role criteria



Solicitor or barrister with significant experience and PQE (Post Qualification Experience), with a good commercial understanding and significant experience commercial contracts in the life sciences sector and in contract drafting and interpretation. Strong skills and reliable legal judgement, analysis and appreciation of legal risk and the confidence to give persuasive and balanced risk-based advice. Excellent and persuasive written and verbal communication and advisory skills and ability to communicate confidently and sensitively with those who may be unfamiliar with legal processes/strategies. Promote diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity and welcome and respond to views and challenges from others, despite any conflicting pressures to ignore or give in to them. Stand by, promote or defend own and team's actions and decisions where needed. Communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way in order to build trust and explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand Take into account people's individual needs and to also deliver difficult messages with clarity and sensitivity, being persuasive when required Challenge assumptions while being willing to compromise if beneficial to progress and to build strong interpersonal relationships and show genuine care for colleagues. Create an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are taken into
account and bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable.
Remain available and approachable to all colleagues and be receptive to new ideas. Demonstrate positive customer service by understanding the complexity and diversity of customer needs and expectations. Deliver a high quality and efficient service and also to make clear, practical and manageable plans for service delivery. Proactively manage risks and identify solutions.

Desirable role criteria:



Experience of working in a scientific or healthcare environment An understanding of the Government and wider public sector context

Benefits


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Alongside your salary of 68,568, UK Health Security Agency contributes 19,864 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know


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Selection process details




This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Ability and Experience.

Stage 1: Application & Sift



You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed (13) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application) 1250 word Statement of Suitability

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.


The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting

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In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria Meets no essential criteria

The following will be taken through to the next stage:

Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria

Shortlisting:




In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following:

Excellent and persuasive written and verbal communication and advisory skills and ability to communicate confidently and sensitively with those who may be unfamiliar with legal processes/strategies. Challenge assumptions while being willing to compromise if beneficial to progress and to build strong interpersonal relationships and show genuine care for colleagues. Solicitor or barrister with significant experience and PQE (Post Qualification Experience), with a good commercial understanding and significant experience commercial contracts in the life sciences sector and in contract drafting and interpretation.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.


If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.


Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Stage 2: Interview




You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.


Behaviours, experience and ability will be tested at interview.


There will be a Presentation, further details will be confirmed at this stage.


The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

Leadership Communicating and Influencing Working Together Managing a Quality Service - (Lead behaviour)

Please do not exceed 1250 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.


Feedback will not be provided at this stage.


Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Eligibility Criteria - External




Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Location




This is a home working role.

Security Clearance Level Requirement




Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.


Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Reasonable Adjustments




The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.


You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check




If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)




Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.

Internal Fraud check




If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant's personal details - name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website




Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security




Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements




This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service




The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion




The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information


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The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants



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Job contact :



Name : Gurkamal Bhambra Email : gurkamal.bhambra@ukhsa.gov.uk
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Recruitment team



Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information




The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

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Job Detail

  • Job Id
    JD3129546
  • Industry
    Not mentioned
  • Total Positions
    1
  • Job Type:
    Part Time
  • Salary:
    Not mentioned
  • Employment Status
    Permanent
  • Job Location
    Remote, GB, United Kingdom
  • Education
    Not mentioned