Senior Legal Counsel - Engine by Starling

Starling Bank; London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Engine by Starling is seeking a UK-qualified lawyer to join its Legal Team, focusing on commercial contracts for a high growth SaaS business within a banking environment. The successful candidate will engage with senior stakeholders and support international expansion efforts while managing various legal projects. This hybrid role demands a proactive individual with strong technical and commercial acumen.

Benefits

33 days holiday including public holidays

Life insurance at 4x your salary

Private Medical Insurance

16 hours paid volunteering time

Employee referral incentives

Qualifications

• Must have around 6-8 years PQE.
• Experience in SaaS and/or financial services regulatory aspects.
• Strong experience in drafting a range of commercial contracts.

Responsibilities

• Drafting and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Advising on data protection matters.
• Managing multiple projects to ensure timely execution.

Skills

Contract Negotiation

Stakeholder Management

Data Protection Advising

Education

UK qualified lawyer

Job description

At Engine by Starling , we are on a mission to find and work with leading banks all around the world who have the ambition to build rapid growth businesses, on our technology.

Engine is Starling's software-as-a-service (SaaS) business, the technology that was built to power Starling Bank, and two years ago we split out as a separate business.

Starling Bank has seen exceptional growth and success, and a large part of that is down to the fact that we have built our own modern technology from the ground up. This SaaS technology platform is now available to banks and financial institutions all around the world, enabling them to benefit from the innovative digital features, and efficient back-office processes that has helped achieve Starling's success.

We draw upon our experience as knowledgeable bankers, and best in class technologists to become the chosen option for these banks, and preferred partners for leading consultancies.

As a company, everyone is expected to roll up their sleeves to help deliver great outcomes for our clients. We are an engineering led company and we’re looking for someone who will be excited by the potential for Engine’s technology to transform banking in different markets around the world.

Hybrid Working

We have a Hybrid approach to working here at Engine - our preference is that you're located within a commutable distance of one of our offices so that we're able to interact and collaborate in person.

About the role

This role is for the Engine Legal Team and will initially report into the General Counsel, Engine. The Engine Legal Team covers all legal aspects needed for a high growth company within a successful bank to succeed. You will have significant exposure to senior stakeholders across Engine. This role will have a strong focus on commercial contracts and related matters.

This role is available to those within a commutable distance of our Manchester, Cardiff or London offices. You must be prepared to travel to our various sites when necessary.

What you'll get to do:

• Drafting, negotiating and advising on client facing commercial contracts (e.g. framework agreements, SaaS agreements, other software licences).
• Drafting, negotiating and advising on a full range of third party supplier and intragroup commercial agreements (e.g. marketing, IT, technology, outsourcing) to support the development of Engine.
• Helping to advise on data protection matters in terms of supplier arrangements and client agreements.
• Advising on any issues and matters that may arise to successfully run a banking SaaS company.
• Helping the General Counsel (and Senior Legal Counsel) on international expansion aspects of Engine.
• Managing multiple projects (often to tight deadlines) and supporting colleagues to ensure business and enterprise-wide initiatives are executed in a timely and accurate manner.
• Updating and maintaining Engine’s legal precedent documents.
• Instructing and working with outside counsel where necessary on specialist and international matters.

Requirements

• You will be a UK qualified lawyer with around 6-8 years PQE (note PQE is a guide only), with banking SaaS and/or financial services regulatory (e.g. material outsourcing rules), and commercial contracts experience.
• Strong real life experience in drafting, advising and negotiating a range of different commercial contracts in a technology and financial services context (ideally both on a sell and buy side).
• Good real life experience in advising on data protection issues.
• You will need to have excellent technical knowledge and at the same time be commercially focused.
• You will be capable of working in a fast-paced environment, and be keen to grow and develop within the organisation.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Interviews

Interviewing is a two way process and we want you to have the time and opportunity to get to know us, as much as we are getting to know you! Our interviews are conversational and we want to get the best from you, so come with questions and be curious. In general you can expect the below, following a chat with one of our Talent Team:

• Technical and competency based interview with the Engine Legal Team - 60 mins

This role will close for applications no later than Fri 25th July.

• 33 days holiday (including public holidays, which you can take when it works best for you)
• An extra day’s holiday for your birthday
• Annual leave is increased with length of service, and you can choose to buy or sell up to five extra days off
• 16 hours paid volunteering time a year
• Salary sacrifice, company enhanced pension scheme
• Life insurance at 4x your salary & group income protection
• Private Medical Insurance with VitalityHealth including mental health support and cancer care. Partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr&Mrs Smith and Peloton
• Generous family-friendly policies
• Incentives refer a friend scheme
• Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, and weekly free and boosted perks
• Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work, Salary Sacrificed Gym partnerships and Electric Vehicle (EV) leasing

About Us

You may be put off applying for a role because you don't tick every box. Forget that! While we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we're always open to discussion. So, if you're excited about working with us, but aren’t sure if you're 100% there yet, get in touch anyway. We’re on a mission to radically reshape banking – and that starts with our brilliant team. Whatever came before, we’re proud to bring together people of all backgrounds and experiences who love working together to solve problems.

Engine by Starling is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Engine by Starling are considered without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

When you provide us with this information, you are doing so at your own consent, with full knowledge that we will process this personal data in accordance with our Privacy Notice. By submitting your application, you agree that Engine by Starling and Starling Bank will collect your personal data for recruiting and related purposes. Our Privacy Notice explains what personal information we will process, where we will process your personal information, its purposes for processing your personal information, and the rights you can exercise over our use of your personal information.