Lawyer (Contracts & Commissioning)

Swale Borough Council; Sittingbourne; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Sittingbourne is seeking a Lawyer (Contracts and Commissioning) to provide high-quality legal advice. This full-time position offers flexible working, a generous holiday policy, and opportunities for career development. Candidates need to be a qualified legal professional with some experience in contracts and commissioning law. This role is part of an exciting team involved in high-profile projects.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

Generous holiday entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive or equivalent experience required.
• Experience in contracts and commissioning law essential.
• Knowledge of drafting contracts and agreements necessary.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality legal advice on contracts and commissioning.
• Supervise junior staff ensuring quality support.
• Stay updated on legal developments.

Skills

Qualified solicitor, barrister or equivalent

Post qualification legal practice experience

Knowledge of Procurement Act

Understanding of local government processes

Valid UK driving licence

Job description

About MKLS

Mid Kent Legal Services (MKLS) provides legal services and advice across the Mid-Kent area (to Swale, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells councils). The service covers a range of areas including Property and Regeneration, Planning, Contentious, Contracts & Commissioning and Corporate Governance. Working across multiple councils means a range of high-level, challenging and impactful work ranging from supporting the delivery of garden communities, to the redevelopment of large shopping centres, to letting very large contracts, to delivering affordable housing. In short, it’s a real opportunity to make a difference in an area with vibrant towns, beautiful villages and countryside and fantastic leisure and cultural amenities.

MKLS’s has a reputation as being forward thinking, progressive and innovative and is closely and strongly aligned with its partner authorities. It provides a supportive and nurturing environment, providing opportunities for staff to progress internally and uses technology to maximise the effective use of lawyers\' time. In short, it is a great place to work.

Role

We are now looking for a Lawyer (Contracts and Commissioning) to join us on a full-time, permanent basis, working 34 hours per week.

Our Offer

• 34 hour full time working week with the offices closing at 1:30pm on Friday
• Highly flexible hybrid working opportunities
• 7am to 7pm flexi time to suit personal circumstances for most roles
• Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.
• Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year.
• Free parking
• Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people’s home/work life balance including compressed hours, 9-day fortnight, part time.
• Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities
• Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
• Annual flu vaccine
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping
• Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals
• A professional fee payment, if required for the role

About The Role

As our Lawyer (Contracts and Commissioning), you will be developed and supported to provide high-quality, proactive professional legal advice in contracts and commissioning law and practice.

Ensuring we operate at the forefront of legal excellence and align with Lexcel standards, you will provide legal advice and communications to clients, across all three local authorities.

You will be developed and supported to supervise less senior fee earners and Legal Support Officers, ensuring high-quality support in legal transactions.

Additionally, you will:

• Stay updated on legal developments in contracts and commissioning
• Be developed and supported to represent MKLS in internal working groups and external meetings
• Uphold the Council’s policies

This is an exciting time to join the MKLS Contracts and Commissioning Team with a number of large and high-profile projects happening across the Partner Authorities.

About You

To be considered as our Lawyer (Contracts and Commissioning), you will need:

• To be a qualified solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive or have equivalent qualification and experience
• Some post qualification legal practice experience in contracts and commissioning
• Some knowledge and understanding of the new Procurement Act and experience of drafting appointment contracts, non-disclosure agreements and exclusivity agreements
• Some knowledge and understanding of the political nature of local government and democratic process
• A full, valid UK driving licence

Other organisations may call this role Legal Counsel, Legal Services Advisor, Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive.

Selection Process

Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.

Swale Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.

Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells local authorities are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells local authorities are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Timothy Pyant, Interim Business Manager on 01622 602155.

Job Description and Person Specification: https://docs.maidstone.gov.uk/jobs/Lawyer-Contracts-and-Commissioning_JDPS-Sept-25-Final.pdf

Interview Date: W/C 3rd November 2025