Senior Counsel - Higher Education, Commercial & Compliance

Surrey; Guildford; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Generous pension

Relocation assistance

Leisure facilities on campus

Travel schemes

On-site nursery

Job summary

The University of Surrey seeks a highly accomplished senior lawyer to join its governance and risk assurance team. Reporting to the Director of Legal Services, you will deliver expert legal advice across a broad range of activities for Operate Surrey Limited and the University, focusing on commercial contracts and higher education matters.

You will balance legal risk with institutional priorities, work autonomously, and support compliance with the Office for Students and other regulators, while

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or barrister with substantial post-qualification experience managing complex and/or time-critical legal matters.
• Significant expertise in legal drafting and commercial contracts with high-level decision-making ability.
• In-house legal experience desirable; familiarity with higher education or public sector beneficial.
• Experience in consumer rights, IP, employment, property/construction, litigation, data protection, corporate law, or finance considered a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice across a diverse portfolio.
• Advise on a broad range of commercial contracts.
• Support on higher education sector activities including governance, regulatory, and dispute matters.
• Balance legal risk with institutional priorities and ensure robust compliance.
• Work autonomously with diplomacy in client interactions.

Skills

Legal drafting

Commercial contracts

Strategic advice

Regulatory compliance

Governance

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister with substantial PQE

Job description

The University of Surrey seeks a highly accomplished senior lawyer to join its governance and risk assurance team. Reporting to the Director of Legal Services, you will deliver expert legal advice across a broad range of activities for Operate Surrey Limited and the University, focusing on commercial contracts and higher education matters.

You will balance legal risk with institutional priorities, work autonomously, and support compliance with the Office for Students and other regulators, while