Head of Legal

Job Title:                      Head of Legal

Location:                      Ashton Vale, Bristol + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Compensation:            Competitive Salary + Benefits

Role Type:                   Full time / Permanent

Role ID:                       SF65144

At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as the Head of Legal at our Ashton Vale, Bristol, Devonport, Devon and Wigmore Street, London sites.

The Role

Here at Babcock, we have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Legal to join our Mission Systems Team.

The Head of Legal supports all parts of the Business Unit (particularly Commercial and Procurement), providing legal advice either orally or in writing, which is succinct and readily understandable by all and can practice effective advocacy with third parties.

The Head of Legal manages the legal team providing guidance and support where needed and reports into the Director of Legal.

• Drafting, reviewing and providing advice and support on Commercial Contracts (local and sometimes international) including Confidentiality agreements, Parent Company Guarantees, Collateral Warranties.
• Supporting and where appropriate leading negotiations with customers and suppliers on contractual positions in a way that allows the Sector to close deals, and still mitigate risks.
• Work collaboratively in the Sector, providing the legal viewpoint and challenge as part of bids and deal shaping, in consideration of the service being contracted, the risk profile of the delivery model and the pricing mechanism for the deal. 
• Managing current and new Intellectual Property including Patent applications and liaising with external Patent Attorney.
• Updating and maintaining the Litigation Report.
• Handling of highly confidential correspondence including legally privileged.
• Give advice to directors, managers and staff at all levels on matters related to the Business Unit’s legal and governance affairs in the UK, and internationally, as appropriate.

This role is full time, 37 hours per week and provides flexible hybrid working arrangements with working days in the office/onsite and working days from home. This role can be delivered from Ashton Vale, Bristol, Devonport, Devon and Wigmore Street, London sites.

Essential Experience of the Head of Legal

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in England or Wales.
• Extensive post-qualification experience including working inhouse, dealing with a variety of commercial matters from disputes to competitive bids.

Qualifications for the Head of Legal

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in England or Wales.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) security clearance for this role. However, the successful candidate would need to obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance Check once in post.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

What We Offer

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually
• ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing

Babcock International

For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal. 

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email careers@babcockinternational.com with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing Date: 30/06/2025 

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