Interim Head of Legal

Douglas Scott Legal Recruitment; Carrville; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Douglas Scott Legal Recruitment is recruiting an interim Head of Legal for Bedfordshire. The 12-month FTC role offers hybrid work (one day in office per week) with responsibilities across the UK and European business, reporting to the CEO and CFO.

The role leads a small legal team, delivering strategic input, risk management and commercial support while coordinating governance and board affairs. A commercially minded lawyer with broad contracts experience will thrive.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a small legal function.
• Broad contracts experience including procurement.
• GDPR and data protection knowledge.
• Experience advising at Board level.

Responsibilities

• Provide pragmatic legal advice across a broad range of business matters.
• Lead drafting, review and negotiation of commercial agreements.
• Manage legal risk, compliance, disputes and relationships with external counsel.
• Overseeing corporate governance and acting as Company Secretary, including Board administration, statutory records and Companies House requirements.
• Developing and embedding effective procurement strategies, supplier relationships, manage supply chain risk.
• Supporting insurance claims and renewal activity, as well as providing input on data protection and GDPR matters.
• Working closely with external counsel to oversee ongoing M&A activity

Skills

Commercial acumen

Contracts & Procurement

Governance & Board liaison

Job description

Interim Head of Legal

12 Month FTC |

Bedfordshire / Hybrid (once a week in office)

£100k

New opportunity in Bedfordshire for an energetic Head of Legal to join a growing, market-leading support services organisation on fixed-term basis.

This is a broad leadership role in a small team, working closely with CEO and CFO to provide strategic input across the UK and European business.

The Role

Reporting into senior leadership, you will oversee the day to day running of the Legal team, providing strategic and commercial legal support across divisions. You will act as a trusted adviser to stakeholders and the Board, helping the business manage risk, strengthen governance and deliver its commercial objectives.

Key areas of responsibility will include:

• Providing pragmatic legal advice across a broad range of business matters.
• Leading the drafting, review and negotiation of commercial agreements.
• Managing legal risk, compliance, disputes and relationships with external counsel.
• Overseeing corporate governance and acting as Company Secretary, including Board administration, statutory records and Companies House requirements.
• Developing and embedding effective procurement strategies, supplier relationships, manage supply chain risk
• Supporting insurance claims and renewal activity, as well as providing input on data protection and GDPR matters.
• Working closely with external counsel to oversee ongoing M&A activity

About You

We are looking for a commercially minded legal professional with experience of overseeing a small function, whilst still being active in the day to day detail. Broad experience across contracts including Procurement is preferred. The business is undergoing significant growth, so this is guaranteed to be a action filled 12 months steering the Legal function to ensure commercial aims are achieved.

Interim Solicitors will find this a rewarding 12 month assignment, but there is the potential for this role to be made permanent subject to certain growth, so candidates seeking permanent opportunities but currently in between roles are encouraged to apply