In-House Contract Manager/ Solicitor - Dundee

The University of Dundee transforms lives locally and globally through the creation, sharing and application of knowledge. Undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees in a wide variety of subjects, allied to an international reputation for world-leading research, help attract top-class students and academics from across the globe, with around 145 countries represented in the University community.

This role is a fixed-term contract for 12 months.

Role Profile:

• The primary function of the role is to work closely with the Director of Legal to advise the University of Dundee’s Business Transformation Team (BT Team) on a wide range of legal and related commercial issues regarding the implementation of a Software as a Service Contract (“the Contract”).
• You will ensure effective Contract governance, supplier management and the development and maintenance of effective working relationships with the BT Team and other University employees, staff, internal, and external stakeholders as required.
• You will work (under the direction of the Director of Legal) with the Director of Business Transformation as required with the BT Team and senior management who will rely on you for your commercially focussed, solution orientated advice, contract management and vendor management abilities.
• On this basis you will have strong communication skills combined with commercial insight. It’s a crucial task that you sit within the BT Team as required and shape complex contractual negotiations and arrangements from origin to completion.

Main Responsibilities: 

• You will assist the Director of Legal to ensure that the BT Team gets expert legal advice (including contract management and supplier management) in the implementation of the Contract.
• The guidance the legal team gives is critical – it can influence a key constituent of the HE sector at a time of considerable change.
• Key to this pivotal role is previous commercial contract experience (ideally learnt in-house), and the drive to grow a highly risk aware culture promoting compliance with the Contract and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. You will have a dynamic, robust work ethic and personality.
• You will blend excellent analytical skills with a gift for dealing with people. It’s important you manage significant stakeholders, including the academic community and industry, as well as high-performing professional teams.
• You will also be comfortable leading on due diligence of the Contract, assessing the procedures currently in place and the expectations of the BT Team from the Supplier. Appliance of sound commercial judgement to legal issues will be central to success.
• You will have a hardworking and can-do attitude and be willing and able to get involved in management of legal aspects and managing compliance with the Contract by the BT Team and the Supplier. A confident solicitor who is a real team player and enjoys challenging themselves on a daily basis.
• You will relish the chance to make a real contribution to the leadership and management of legal risk within the University and deliver balanced commercial outcomes.
• Additional responsibilities include providing commercial and legal advice as required by the Director of Legal outside of the BT Team.

Planning and Organising

The successful applicant will be expected to:

• Carry out due diligence on compliance with the Contract to date;
• Implement an effective system and procedure for ensuring compliance with the Contract by the BT Team, the Supplier and other stakeholders;
• Deliver strategic advice to the BT Team – we are looking for an individual who understands how to deliver commercial advice not simply explaining the letter of the law.This is not necessarily achieved through litigation but also mediation, negotiation and pre-emptive strategic advice;
• Manage the expectations of the BT Team and balance competing priorities;
• Work collaboratively with other solicitors and paralegals working for the University;
• Identify and work towards longer term strategic goals for the BT Team.

Problem Solving

The successful applicant will be required to:

• Proactively identify and manage legal and commercial issues associated with the Contract and BT Team;
• Ability to negotiate with the Supplier to establish acceptable levels of compliance and protection for the University.
• Draft and negotiate legal contracts in relation to the BT Project.

Decision Making

The successful applicant will be required to:

• Demonstrate good judgement and take a view, providing recommendations for action by the University.
• Prioritise and manage workloads to ensure deadlines are met;
• Identify where input is required from other professional services in the University.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Needed for the Job:

• Have at least four years’ post qualification legal experience in private practice and/or in an in-house role.
• Have an unrestricted practicing certificate from a relevant Law Society.
• Recent relevant commercial contracts experience in a high paced environment.
• Ability to provide commercial advice and take a pragmatic approach to solving legal and commercial problems.
• An ability to effectively communicate complex topics and concepts to a diverse audience and demonstrate the highest professional standards of operation and service is essential.
• The candidate will possess a high degree of self-confidence and convey an authoritative manner and will command the respect of others whilst being seen as someone of integrity, sincerity and in whom others place their trust.
• The ability to develop strong working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders and have strong influencing skills is required. The role holder must demonstrate a thorough approach to work, be detail conscious, have high personal standards and be able to organise them self and others effectively whilst demonstrating commercial awareness and understanding.
• The capability and desire to succeed are essential in this role. The successful candidate must have the ability and willingness to take responsibility for difficult decisions.
• Experience of Projects and project implementation and negotiating with suppliers and the legal issues that arise from that would be desirable.

For a confidential discussion about this position or to apply please contact:

David Thomson, Director

Edinburgh: 0131 450 7164

Glasgow: 0141 244 0260

Email: david@thomsonlrc.com