Commercial Lawyer Ref.1700

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Operational and Surveillance
Cheltenham or London
Salary of £54,532 (on a pro rata basis) plus £5,500 London Pay Addition if applicable
GCHQ, the longest standing code-breaking intelligence agency in the UK, is offering you an exciting opportunity to join our Legal Team as a Commercial Lawyer.

THE ROLE

We are currently recruiting for a number of lawyers to join the GCHQ Legal Team in Intelligence Agencies’ procurement and commercial function. Providing sound commercial function and sound commercial legal advice on a broad portfolio of commercial matters, including major procurements and projects, commercial policy and standard terms of conditions, major negotiations, dispute resolution and avoidance.

While the role is challenging, our flexible working policy ensures a healthy work-life balance. Wherever possible, we accommodate reduced hours or job share options, balanced against business needs.

REQUIREMENTS

To provide sound commercial legal advice on a broad portfolio of commercial matters, including major procurements and projects, commercial policy and standard terms of conditions, major negotiations, data protection, IP, dispute resolution and avoidance.

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• Legal Professional Skills
• Excellent powers of analysis, use of evidence and sound legal judgment and appreciation of legal risk, with experience in one of the following areas:              
      o Procurement law including major programmes
      o Commercial and Contractual Law
      o Interface between commercial and public law
      o Commercial litigation, arbitration and ADR
      o Intellectual property and technology law
      o Construction, property and planning law
• Making effective decisions
• Collaborating and partnering
• Managing a quality service for clients
• Delivering at pace
• Motivational fit

Key Responsibilities:

Being the day to day contact for clients, advising on a range of legal matters including:

• Drafting contracts, tender documents and advice
• Advising on traditional and novel approaches to contracting
• Supporting clients on negotiations
• Advising on NDAs and conflicts of interest
• Attending and contributing to project boards, contributing to board papers, business cases and legal risk papers
• Providing training to clients and other lawyers in the team
• Liaising with external stakeholders on legal issues
• Advising on dispute resolution and avoidance, assessing contractual positions and potential claims.

To be eligible to apply you will need to be a British Citizen and a qualified solicitor or barrister in a UK jurisdiction.

The posts are suited to full or part time/job share lawyer(s) working a 37 hour week.  

Candidates will be assessed against the following Civil Service Competencies at levels appropriate for the grade:

Competencies - Level - Desirability

Working with and Leading Others - Advanced - Essential
Contribution to Delivery - Higher - Essential
Managing the Customer Relationship - Higher - Essential
Corporate Vision and Efficiency - Higher - Essential
Change and Innovation - Higher - Essential
Analysis and Decision Making - Advanced - Essential
Communications and Knowledge Sharing - Advanced - Essential

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

At GCHQ we’re proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment that’s designed to encourage open minds and attitudes. As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential. With comprehensive training and development opportunities, tailored to your needs and the requirements of your work, we’ll enable you to flourish in your role and perform to the very best of your abilities.

ABOUT US

As one of Britain’s intelligence agencies, we unlock the complex world of communications to keep our nation safe. We work closely with MI5 and MI6, our partners in the intelligence community, to safeguard Britain’s people, interests and businesses from various threats. Think cyber-attacks, espionage, terrorism, and organised crime. It’s challenging, varied and meaningful work that you simply won’t find anywhere else.

SALARY

Salary of £54,532 (on a pro rata basis) plus £5,500 London Pay Addition if applicable, with the potential to earn skills bonuses and additional payments dependant on experience.

LOCATION

Cheltenham or London

SELECTION PROCESS

To apply for this position, you must meet our nationality, residency and security requirements.  You’ll find more details here.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we also guarantee to interview all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for our roles.

Once we’ve established that you meet our eligibility criteria, the next steps of this selection process are:

- Application Form
- Personal interview
- Drug test
    
If you successfully complete these stages, you’ll receive a job offer, conditional upon you completing our developed vetting (DV) process which enables you to obtain the level of security clearance required to perform this vital role.

This Program / Vacancy is closed to applications.