Solicitor - Commercial Contracts

NHS National Services Scotland; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A national health services organization in Edinburgh is seeking Solicitors for their Commercial Contracts Department. Ideal candidates will have experience in drafting and advising on commercial contracts, and an interest in public procurement. The role involves assisting with various procurement projects and providing legal advice to NHS clients. The position operates under a hybrid model, with essential office attendance for meetings. This role also requires a Disclosure Scotland check and residency in the UK.

Benefits

Pension scheme

Work life balance policies

Occupational health services

Discounted leisure and financial benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in drafting and advising on commercial contracts.
• Interest in public procurement work.
• Experience with diverse clients at differing levels of seniority.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a comprehensive commercial contracts service to the NHS.
• Assist with large and small procurement projects.
• Provide general commercial contracts advice to clients.

Skills

Drafting commercial contracts

Public procurement

Managing workload

Job description

Solicitor – Commercial Contracts

2 posts are available

About the Organisation:

National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national NHS Board operating right at the heart of NHSScotland providing invaluable support and advice at a strategic and operational level. NSS supports clients to deliver their services more efficiently and effectively and we offer shared services on a national scale using best-in-class systems and standards. Our priority is always the same – to improve the health and well-being of the people of Scotland. We do this by working in partnership with colleagues across Health and Social Care to deliver fit for purpose solutions and systems, delivering high quality services that help our stakeholders to free up resources so they can be re‑invested into essential services.

The Central Legal Office (CLO), as part of NSS, provides legal services to NHS Scotland bodies. It operates a team and Department based structure, covering Litigation, Employment, Commercial Contracts and Commercial Property. Each of the Departments is comprised of experienced solicitors and support staff, committed to delivering a responsive and cost effective service to clients across NHS Scotland and the wider public sector.

The Post:

We are currently recruiting for two Solicitor posts in the Commercial Contracts Department.

The Candidate:

Due to the way in which NHS Scotland roles are graded, a single generic job description is used by CLO in connection with all of its solicitor recruitments. Accordingly, any elements of the job description which do not relate to the CLO Commercial Contracts Department should be disregarded and a job outline for the solicitor job is available to provide further detail.

You will be a solicitor with experience of drafting and advising on commercial contracts. You will also have experience of, or an interest in, public procurement work. You will join a team that delivers a comprehensive commercial contracts service to the NHS in Scotland, as well as to the wider public sector, including the provision of public procurement legal advice. You will assist with large and small procurement projects and will also provide general commercial contracts advice to clients. You will have experience managing your own workload and be accustomed to dealing with a diverse range of clients at differing levels of seniority.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a Disclosure Scotland check. Any candidates who have lived/worked overseas for more than 12 months in the preceding 5 years will also be required to provide a criminal record check from the appropriate overseas agency.

Location and Working Pattern:

The location for all role is Gyle Square, Edinburgh. CLO operates a hybrid working model, but attendance at the office will be required for departmental meetings (once per month) and otherwise as required to undertake both roles e.g. for project negotiation meetings, training, other face to face interaction etc. Most communication is now conducted electronically and so physical travel is kept to a minimum.

The work pattern is Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week.

It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NSS.

Benefits:

Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits. HR Benefits Brochure.

Inclusion:

NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national board and, as an anchor institution, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and feel confident about their ability to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. NSS has made a long-term commitment to staff health and well-being and offers many learning and development opportunities to support and improve our approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are a number of equality staff networks in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are also an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, it is the aim of NSS to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on [e-mail].

Further information:

For an informal discussion on the post, please contact [e-mail].

Closing date for completed applications is 18 January 2026.

Further information on NSS is available from: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/.

Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e‑mail only, so please check your e‑mail regularly (including junk folders).

NHS National Services Scotland is an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.