Senior Legal Counsel (Environmental)

ZipRecruiter; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK water company is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel (Environmental) to oversee environmental legal matters, ensure compliance, and interface with regulators. The role offers a competitive salary, car allowance, private health insurance, and other benefits. Candidates need to be qualified solicitors with experience in environmental law and strong managerial skills. This position supports a hybrid work environment based in Reading.

Benefits

Car allowance – £5,800

Private health insurance

Performance-related pay plan

26 days annual leave

Contributory pension

Annual personal medical assessments

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with extensive post-qualification experience in environmental legal advice.
• Experience in fast-paced environments handling complex matters.
• Ability to manage and supervise external legal providers.

Responsibilities

• Manage environmental enforcement proceedings and litigation.
• Ensure quality of legal advice and service.
• Interface with regulators on environmental compliance.

Skills

Environmental legal advice

Regulatory compliance

Managing legal providers

Risk assessment

Commercial acumen

Education

Qualified Solicitor or Barrister in England & Wales

Tools

Office products

Job description

Overview

Senior Legal Counsel (Environmental) to support the General Counsel and Director of Legal (Environmental) with management and mitigation of environmental legal risk across the business, supporting environmental legal compliance and good governance. You will oversee material environmental legal matters, projects and litigation and provide legal advice to manage environmental compliance and reputational risk. The role interfaces with the Environmental Oversight Officer to ensure alignment between the Board and the Executive Committee on environmental compliance matters.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex and material environmental enforcement proceedings, litigation and regulatory issues, whether in-house or with external legal providers, including high court litigation and regulatory investigations.
• Ensure the quality of legal advice and service.
• Set and operate within budgetary constraints.
• Ensure appropriate reporting of material matters to Executive and Board levels.
• Support and promote good corporate governance as it relates to environmental legal compliance.
• Interface with regulators on environmental compliance matters.
• Report to the Director of Legal (Environmental) or other parts of the business on environmental legal compliance, material projects/matters and litigation risk.
• Manage external Legal Service Providers and panel law firms for environmental legal support and significant external legal spend.
• Location: Hybrid, Reading. 36 hours per week.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister in England & Wales (or qualified overseas solicitor in a recognized jurisdiction) with extensive post-qualification experience and expertise in providing environmental legal advice within a regulated environment and within agreed budgetary and timing constraints.
• Experience in fast-paced environments handling complex matters and/or projects.
• Good/advanced IT aptitude; proficiency in Office products.
• Experience in managing and supervising external legal providers from a performance/budgetary perspective.
• Resilient self-starter and team player with ability to operate at management level and regular Executive exposure.
• Commercial acumen; ability to prioritise changing demands and demonstrate resilience under pressure.
• Ability to interface with regulatory agencies (e.g., Ofwat and the Environment Agency) and influence teams across the organization.
• Sound judgment, risk assessment and decision-making; subject matter expert in environmental law.
• Experience of risk management and legal compliance reporting, including reporting material and commercial risks.

What’s in it for you?

This is a challenging, high-profile opportunity with a company undergoing a positive turnaround, working with a dedicated, talented and supportive team.

• Competitive salary
• Car allowance – £5,800
• Private health insurance
• Performance-related pay plan: linked to company and individual performance
• Annual leave: 26 days, increasing to 30 with length of service, plus bank holidays
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - maximum 12% with 2x employee contribution
• Annual personal medical assessments
• Benefits hub with offers to support wellbeing

About Thames Water

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, serving over 16 million customers. We pursue a better future for customers, communities, people and the planet. We foster a diverse, inclusive workplace with meaningful career opportunities and flexible working arrangements.

Our values and recruitment

We welcome applications from everyone and offer adjustments if needed during the recruitment process. If a crisis occurs, Team Thames supports customers and you may have opportunities to participate in frontline efforts as an ambassador. Full training will be provided. This advert may close early due to high application volumes.