General Counsel

Pennon Group; Devon and Torbay; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Pennon Group is seeking an exceptional General Counsel to provide strategic legal leadership across the Group and act as a trusted advisor to the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Leadership Team.

This rare opportunity comes as Pennon navigates complex regulatory, commercial and governance challenges while delivering the long-term strategy and ensuring robust corporate governance and ESG commitments across its water and renewables businesses.

Qualifications

• Qualification as a Solicitor or Barrister in England and Wales.
• Significant post-qualification experience, including senior in-house legal leadership.
• Experience operating within a regulated industry environment.
• Strong corporate governance and Board advisory expertise.
• Proven ability to influence Executive and Board-level stakeholders.
• Experience leading legal teams and managing external legal partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal leadership across the Group and act as a trusted advisor to the Board, CEO and Executive Leadership Team.
• Advise on corporate governance, regulatory and compliance matters.
• Oversee major capital, infrastructure programmes and commercial contracts.
• Lead corporate transactions, acquisitions and partnerships; manage litigation, risk and disputes.
• Guide ESG, sustainability and regulatory obligations and governance considerations.
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to integrate legal considerations into decision-making.

Skills

Executive presence

Strategic thinking

Influence stakeholders

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Education

Solicitor or Barrister in England and Wales

Job description

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose

At Pennon Group, we're proud to serve communities while protecting the environment. Together with our subsidiaries, South West Water, Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water, SES Water, Pennon Water Services and Pennon Power, we're leading the way in water and renewables.

We're proud to be recognised as a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we're working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

Whether you're starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

We are seeking an exceptional General Counsel to provide strategic legal leadership across the Group and act as a trusted advisor to the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Leadership Team.

This is a rare opportunity to join a high-profile listed business at a pivotal time for the sector, helping to navigate complex regulatory, commercial and governance challenges while enabling the delivery of Pennon's long-term strategy.

The Role

As General Counsel, you will be the Group's most senior legal advisor, providing commercially focused legal counsel across a broad range of strategic matters including:

• Corporate governance and Board advisory support.
• Regulatory and compliance matters.
• Major capital and infrastructure programmes.
• Commercial contracts and strategic procurements.
• Corporate transactions, acquisitions and partnerships.
• Litigation, dispute resolution and risk management.
• ESG, sustainability and emerging regulatory obligations.

You will work closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation, ensuring legal considerations are fully integrated into decision-making while helping the business achieve its strategic objectives.

This role requires someone who can balance strong legal judgement with commercial pragmatism, influencing at the highest levels while building trusted relationships across the Group.

About You

We're looking for an experienced legal leader who combines outstanding technical expertise with business acumen and executive presence.

You will bring:

• Qualification as a Solicitor or Barrister in England and Wales.
• Significant post-qualification experience, including senior in-house legal leadership.
• Experience operating within a regulated industry environment.
• Strong corporate governance and Board advisory expertise.
• A track record of advising on complex commercial, strategic and regulatory matters.
• Proven ability to influence Executive and Board-level stakeholders.
• Experience leading legal teams and managing external legal partners.

Experience within utilities, infrastructure, environmental services or other highly regulated sectors would be advantageous.

What Will Make You Successful?

You will thrive in this role if you are motivated by:

• Influencing strategic business decisions.
• Solving complex and high-profile challenges.
• Protecting and enhancing corporate reputation.
• Leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Supporting sustainable long-term business outcomes.
• Building strong partnerships with Boards, executives, regulators and external stakeholders.

Why Pennon?

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a business that delivers services critical to the environment, communities and customers we serve every day.

You'll join an organisation with ambitious plans for the future, a strong sense of purpose and a commitment to doing the right thing for customers, colleagues, investors and the environment.

Advert Closing Date: Wednesday 19th August 2026

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory Enhanced National Security Vetting to SC Level as part of the onboarding process and any offer of employment will be subject to successfully passing the checks that handled by (UKSV).

To attain SC candidates will need to have held residency in the UK for the past 5 years.

Be yourself, we like it that way.

Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:

Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.

Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.

Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.