Group Legal Counsel

Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate; Harrogate; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Part time

Job summary

Bettys & Taylors Group in Harrogate, England, is seeking an experienced Group Legal Counsel on a 14-month fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave. The role combines strategic input with hands-on risk management in a busy FMCG, retail and consumer business.

You will join a small, high-performing legal team, report to the Head of Legal, and provide pragmatic, commercial advice across contracts, data protection, IP and regulatory matters, with a hybrid working pattern at Pagoda House.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales.
• Strong business-focused contract drafting and negotiation skills.
• Experience advising on UK and EU data protection compliance.
• Ability to provide clear, commercial and practical legal guidance to stakeholders.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent analytical skills, attention to detail and good judgement.
• Interest in issues affecting FMCG, retail and consumer businesses.
• Proactive, collaborative approach with ability to manage varied workload.

Responsibilities

• Act as trusted legal adviser to stakeholders with timely, pragmatic advice.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial contracts across the business.
• Lead on data protection matters, UK GDPR compliance and DPIAs.
• Support data breach management and liaise with regulators as needed.
• Advise on consumer law, advertising, IP, e-commerce and related matters.
• Identify and manage legal and regulatory risks across projects.
• Monitor regulatory developments and brief colleagues on impacts.
• Help develop policies, training and self-service legal resources.

Skills

Qualified Solicitor England & Wales

Commercial contract drafting

UK GDPR data protection

Clear pragmatic legal advice

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Regulatory risk awareness

FMCG/retail familiarity

Job description

Join us as a Group Legal Counsel at Bettys and Taylors Group - Our family business is home to three iconic Yorkshire brands - Yorkshire Tea, Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate.

We're looking for an experienced and commercially minded Group Legal Counsel to join our Legal team on a 14-month fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of our business, providing pragmatic legal advice that supports both strategic priorities and day-to-day operations across the Group.

Reporting to the Head of Legal, you'll be part of a small, high-performing Legal team, working closely with colleagues across the business to manage legal risk, support commercial opportunities and ensure compliance with an evolving regulatory landscape.

We understand that flexibility matters. This role is available on a part-time or full-time basis, between 30 and 37.5 hours per week, and we are happy to discuss working patterns that work for both you and the business. We offer a hybrid approach to working, with our team based at Pagoda House in Harrogate (HG2 7LD), combining regular onsite collaboration with flexibility where possible.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted legal adviser to stakeholders across the business, providing timely, pragmatic and commercially focused advice.
• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts, identifying risks and supporting business objectives.
• Lead on data protection matters, including advising on UK GDPR compliance, supporting DPIAs, managing data subject requests and maintaining key compliance records.
• Support the management of data breaches and liaise with regulatory bodies where required.
• Advise on consumer law, advertising, intellectual property, e-commerce and other legal matters relevant to the Group.
• Support the identification and management of legal and regulatory risks across projects and business activities.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments and help colleagues understand potential business impacts.
• Contribute to the development of policies, guidance, training and legal self-service resources to build capability across the organisation.

What You Bring

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales
• Strong commercial contract drafting and negotiation skills
• Experience advising on UK and EU data protection compliance and governance frameworks
• The ability to provide clear, commercial and practical legal advice to a range of stakeholders.
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent analytical skills, attention to detail and sound judgement
• An interest in the legal and regulatory issues affecting FMCG, retail and consumer-focused businesses
• A proactive, collaborative approach and the ability to manage a varied workload in a fast-paced environment

About Us - Great People, Great Culture

We are Bettys & Taylors Group. Our family business is home to three iconic Yorkshire brands - Yorkshire Tea, Bettys, and Taylors of Harrogate. Together we share a passion for quality, delighting customers, and doing things properly. We are driven by our purpose and values, and we know our talented people set us apart. That’s where you come in.

We are committed to offering a welcoming, inclusive culture where everyone can thrive and we welcome applications from all cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Don’t worry if you do not meet 100% of the job requirements listed above - if you fulfil most of the skills and experiences we're looking for, please apply as we would love to hear from you.

What We Offer You

You’ll receive a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your financial and overall wellbeing.

On top of a competitive salary, we offer:

• A discretionary profit-share bonus scheme paid quarterly (11.9% average over the last three years)
• A generous, flexible and inclusive range of family-friendly benefits to support you through every stage of life. These include enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave arrangements, flexible working options, paid time off for caring responsibilities, and emergency family leave
• Freshly cooked hot meals while at work, along with free drinks and snacks
• Discounts on Bettys & Taylors products
• A range of health benefits, including a health cash plan, health assessments, flu jabs and more
• Wellbeing support, including an Employee Assistance Programme
• The option to buy and (in some cases) sell additional holidays
• Pension schemes and life assurance

We also offer a range of development opportunities no matter your role and ambitions. We encourage everyone to take control of their career and make the most of:

• On-the-job learning
• External training programmes
• Apprenticeship opportunities
• Internal 1:1 coaching schemes
• Find out more about working here on our website.

Application and Interview Process

To apply, submit a CV and a supporting statement. There will be a two-stage process for this role, and this will consist of a competency-based interview and a task brief. Please let us know of any reasonable adjustments which you would benefit from. The hiring manager will pick up any information provided in your application and get in touch with you to talk about what could support you.

The closing date for this vacancy is 21st September 2026.