Associate/Senior/Principal Associate - Procurement

Mills & Reeve LLP; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Mills & Reeve LLP is hiring an experienced Procurement Solicitor to join our national, cross‑sector team. The role involves advising on public procurement law for clients spanning central and local government, NHS, education and utilities, with opportunities to support suppliers as well.

The successful candidate will have 5+ years PQE in procurement, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to draft documentation, strategy and procurement challenges.

Qualifications

• 5+ years PQE with public procurement experience.
• Experience advising central and local government, NHS bodies, education institutions, charities and utilities, as well as suppliers.
• Ability to draft procurement documentation and strategy.
• Strong commercial awareness and pricing of work.

Responsibilities

• Advise on all aspects of public procurement law.
• Assist in procurement litigation matters in the High Court, both defending and challenging.
• Maintain and contribute to the Procurement Portal knowledge resource.
• Support business development activities, including training events, seminars, newsletters, tenders and pitches.
• Contribute to internal know-how and supervise junior team members.
• Draft and negotiate commercial contracts, especially public sector outsourcing.

Skills

Public procurement law

Commercial law

Client relationship management

Public speaking

Education

Solicitor qualification (UK)

Job description

Mills & Reeve are hiring an experienced Procurement Solicitor to join our growing, national team.

The role

We need a first class experienced solicitor to join our leading national cross-sector public procurement team. This role is to work alongside our other public procurement lawyers, as well as lawyers in the commercial team, in providing support and advice in relation to public procurement law to clients including central and local government, national agencies, NHS bodies, education institutions, charities and utility companies, as well as suppliers to the public sector and utilities from SMEs to PLCs.

Ideally based in Birmingham or Cambridge, although we also welcome applications from candidates wishing to be based in Leeds, Manchester, Norwich or Oxford, you will be involved in all aspects of procurement advice and for both procuring entities and suppliers. Tasks will include: drafting and advising on procurement documentation (from contract notices through to evaluation strategy, standstill and award); procurement strategy and other procurement advisory work; and advising on challenges to procurement decisions and processes.

Mills and Reeve has a number of panel appointments including the CCS Legal Services Panel Framework. We have an impressive and growing client list and you will work closely with a number of the largest public sector bodies, as well as leading suppliers on high profile matters. We aim to provide clients with pragmatic and commercially focussed advice and we are looking for a lawyer who can put their specialist knowledge of procurement law into practice and find practical solutions to support our clients' objectives.

The person

We are looking for an enthusiastic team player with a passion for public procurement law. You will have the confidence to take responsibility for your own matters, and clients, and to help in growing the practice.

You will be 5+ years PQE with previous public procurement experience. We are looking for someone who can demonstrate excellent commercial legal skills, sound commercial acumen, an understanding of the public sector and a passion for public procurement work.

The activities

Work will include, but not be limited to:

• advising on all aspects of public procurement law;
• working with our procurement litigation specialists advising on proceedings in the High Court (both defending and bringing challenges);
• assisting in the maintenance of our market-leading procurement online resource, the Procurement Portal;
• supporting other business development activities, including speaking at training events, seminars and external conferences, contributing to newsletters, blogs, tenders and pitches;
• contribution to internal know-how and precedent development; and
• supervising more junior members of the team, trainees and apprentice solicitors.

Whilst the main focus of the role is public procurement, we would welcome applications from candidates who are also able to support clients in the drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts, particularly in respect of public sector outsourcing and projects.

Skills and attributes

• A breadth of experience of public procurement and commercial law
• Marketing and business development experience
• Experience of public speaking
• Excellent commercial management skills including experience in scoping and pricing work
• Excellent time and paper management

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The benefits

As you'd expect, we offer a competitive salary and a wide range of benefits.

If we offer you a role, we will conduct comprehensive pre-employment screening. This screening will include, but is not limited to, a basic DBS, verification of your right to work, a three year employment history and a self-declaration to assess your character and suitability for the role. Full details of our pre-screening employment process are available upon request.

The firm

Mills & Reeve is centred on achieving more for clients, their businesses and the wider communities we serve. Our clients and their industries benefit from our knowledge and learning, and receive consistent experiences with no surprises. We tell them what they need to know when they need to know it.

We build personal relationships, with advice individually tailored to individual need. And if clients need things we don't offer, we draw on our network to give recommendations. Our 1,450 plus people and over 850 lawyers share one vision – achieving more for clients.

By joining Mills & Reeve, you'll have the chance to build your skills and experience within a firm that's not only ranked in the top 50 UK law firms, but also one that truly values their people. We're also ranked in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list, and have been awarded Platinum Investors in People. Our mantra is “Achieve more. Together.”, which we feel embodies our purpose and is more than just a catchphrase!

Our values are the principles that help us fulfil our purpose. Our people shaped them and live them every day.

• We're ambitious - We aim high, we embrace new ideas and we're passionate about our work
• We're open - We communicate openly and honestly to build trust, and we do what's right
• We care - We're committed to each other, our clients, our communities and the planet
• We collaborate - We're easy to work with, we offer help willingly and we get things done – together

And finally

Everyone at Mills & Reeve brings a unique perspective and ideas to the team and we do everything we can to help each person to thrive. We're committed to providing an inclusive and supportive working environment, are happy to consider flexible working arrangements, and want to achieve the right balance for both our people and the firm. We encourage everyone to ask if they feel they need any workplace adjustments, and will do our best to support with these.