Lawyer (Contracts and Procurement)

Devon County Council; United States; Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured development

Opportunities to grow

Hybrid working

Job summary

Devon County Council is seeking a commercially-minded lawyer with expertise in contracts to provide strategic advice and hands-on support within its Legal Services Team. You will draft, review and negotiate a range of agreements, support major projects, and guide officers on contract and procurement best practices.

The role involves liaising with external stakeholders and contributing to policy development, with a focus on value for money and robust governance in the public sector.

Qualifications

• Excellent drafting, negotiation, time management, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage a busy caseload, work autonomously, and deliver pragmatic solutions under pressure.
• Committed to equality, professionalism, and the values of Devon County Council.
• Experience in contracts and procurement law is desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts including service agreements, grants, academy conversions, and collaboration agreements.
• Support major projects and commissioning arrangements, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements.
• Provide training and guidance to officers on contract and procurement best practice.
• Represent the Council in negotiations and liaise with external stakeholders, suppliers, and legal advisors.
• Contribute to policy development and continuous improvement in contracting and commissioning.

Skills

Drafting

Negotiation

Time management

Communication

Autonomy

Public sector experience

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister or equivalent

Job description

As a Lawyer specialising in contracts, you will provide expert legal advice and assistance to the Council and its directorates. You will draft and advise on a wide range of interesting and novel contractual arrangements and support strategic projects that deliver value for money and robust governance for the people of Devon. You will join three Procurement Specialists and the Assistant Director of Legal Services who will provide guidance and mentoring in supporting your professional development. Your responsibilities will include:

• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts including service agreements, grants, academy conversions, and collaboration agreements.
• Support major projects and commissioning arrangements, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements.
• Provide training and guidance to officers on contract and procurement best practice.
• Represent the Council in negotiations and liaise with external stakeholders, suppliers, and legal advisors.
• Contribute to policy development and continuous improvement in contracting and commissioning.

Procurement experience is desirable but not essential. Over time, and with supervision, your main responsibilities will broaden to include advising on public procurement law and providing support and management throughout various procurement processes.

Please note that the Lawyer Job Description contains generic information, not all of which will be applicable to this role.

This role is based in County Hall, Exeter. Our Agile Working policy supports hybrid working, subject to business needs. Therefore, a degree of remote working is permitted albeit there is an expectation that the post-holder will work in County Hall as and when required by the department.

You are a commercially-minded lawyer with a keen interest in working for the public sector and delivering improvements and real value for the people of Devon. You pair rigorous legal analysis with practical, solutions-focused judgement, advising senior stakeholders, leading negotiations, and managing a varied caseload with confidence.

• Qualified solicitor, barrister, or equivalent experienced in contracts (experience of procurement law is desirable but not essential).
• Previous experience of working in a public sector environment or with public sector clients.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, time management, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage a busy caseload, work autonomously, and deliver pragmatic solutions under pressure.
• Committed to equality, professionalism, and the values of Devon County Council.

£46,579 - £50,908 per annum + supplement of £5,000

We are building the next chapter of Legal Services in Devon, and we would like you to be part of it. Following a recent restructure, designed to strengthen the service for the future, a number of our colleagues have successfully progressed into new roles. Their progression has created opportunities across our newly structured service and we are now looking for talented people to join us. With opportunities at different stages of a legal career, this is a great time to join, develop and make your mark in Devon. Our vision is to build a modern, efficient and community-focused authority that delivers outstanding services, strong leadership and exceptional value for money. Join Devon County Council's Legal Services Team and play an important role in shaping how we deliver contracts and procurements across the organisation. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced legal professional to provide strategic advice and hands-on support in a dynamic public sector environment., Why Devon? At Devon County Council, you'll find more than just a job - you'll discover a career with purpose. We offer:

• Structured Development Comprehensive training and supervision in a supportive environment to help you meet professional qualifications and progress with confidence.
• Opportunities to Grow Build expertise across diverse areas of public sector law, with clear pathways and genuine opportunities for professional development.
• A Council with Purpose Be part of an organisation committed to creating a fairer, greener, and more prosperous Devon, guided by our Strategic Plan priorities.
• Inclusive and Collaborative Culture Work in a friendly team that values diversity, innovation, and collaboration, where your contribution truly matters.
• Impact That Counts Make a real difference to communities across Devon through meaningful legal work that shapes lives and services.