Principal Commercial Lawyer

JR United Kingdom; England; Remote; GBP 62,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public sector legal service is seeking a Principal Commercial Lawyer to lead on significant procurement and regeneration projects. This fully remote role includes drafting and advising on complex contracts and mentoring junior staff, offering a competitive salary and a strong support structure.

Benefits

Generous leave starting at 25 days

Secure pension access to LGPS

Administrative support

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive with practicing certificate.
• Significant experience in contracts and procurement, preferably in local government.
• Ability to manage complex, high-value matters independently.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and advise on complex commercial contracts and projects.
• Advise departments on legal issues, governance, and contract templates.
• Supervise two qualified lawyers and mentor staff.

Skills

Commercial Law

Contract Negotiation

Mentoring

Leadership

Education

Solicitor or Barrister with practicing certificate

Chartered Legal Executive

Job description

Principal Commercial Lawyer

£62,445 - £67,884 | Fully Remote (contractually) | Annualised Hours

We’re seeking an experienced commercial contracts lawyer to serve as Principal Commercial Lawyer, a senior position involved in major procurement and regeneration projects across South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils.

This role offers the opportunity to influence the legal strategy of transformative initiatives, mentor junior staff, and contribute to high-level strategic decisions.

Why Join

• True Flexibility: Fully remote work environment with IT support and a trust-based culture.
• Major Contracts: Lead on complex contracts related to waste services, vehicle fleets, solar infrastructure, and insurance.
• Strong Support: Focus on high-value legal work with administrative support.
• Strategic Influence: Engage in procurement planning and contract design alongside senior officers.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and advise on complex commercial contracts and projects.
• Advise departments such as procurement, property, and regeneration.
• Draft and approve contract templates across various sectors including construction, consultancy, and ICT.
• Support redevelopment and social housing investment projects.
• Supervise two qualified lawyers, support administrative staff, and mentor future legal talent.
• Advise elected officials and committees on legal issues and governance.

What You’ll Bring

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive with a practicing certificate.
• Significant experience in contracts and procurement, preferably in local government.
• Ability to manage complex, high-value matters independently.
• Collaborative leadership and client relationship skills.
• Commitment to public service legal excellence.

The Package

• Remote Working: Fully enabled with case management system.
• Annualised Hours: Approximately 37 hours per week with flexible scheduling.
• Generous Leave: Starting at 25 days, increasing to 30, plus bank holidays and Christmas shutdown.
• Continuous Service Recognition: Public sector service counts towards leave entitlement.
• Secure Pension: Access to LGPS.
• Well-Resourced: Administrative support to focus on legal work.
• Exciting Pipeline: Projects include housing investment, decarbonisation, and fleet procurement.

About Us

We are the shared legal service for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, committed to modernising in-house legal teams with a focus on excellence, trust, flexibility, and impact. We are seeking a Principal Lawyer to help lead our team into a new phase.

Apply today

Join us to shape community services through public sector contract law. For applications or more information, contact our recruitment partner Venn Group.