Job Description
This job is with Southern Water, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.
Closing Date
2025-06-27
Job Title: Assistant Commercial Solicitor
Location: Durrington, West Sussex (hybrid 2-3 days p/w)
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 37, Monday to Friday
Salary: £competitive
There has never been a better time to join our organisation as we build towards a greener future, tackling climate change, minimising our environmental impact and reducing our carbon footprint!
Job Overview
To provide high quality commercial legal services to Southern Water to enable delivery of various capital, operational and infrastructure programmes, particularly those matters relating to AMP8 (and future AMPs) and company turnaround projects, through:
* supporting the senior Commercial Solicitors (across both the procurement/ commercial contracts areas and competition & regulated contracts/ business & retailer services areas) on various value and complexity projects, advising on technically challenging and highly specialist projects; working with, advising and supporting project teams and operational functions.
* advising on the legal ramifications and structuring of a wide range of contracting and outsourcing arrangements and diverse commercial projects, transactions and contracts.
* drafting, negotiation and settling various forms of commercial contracts.
* advising on public procurement law as it affects water utilities and practical procurement issues, including acting as guardian of relevant legal policies and providing standardised procurement and commercial legal agreements.
* being able to review and assess commercial legal issues in supplier contracts and terms of business.
* undertaking commercial transactional work and procurements, contract management, grants, and strategic commercial advice to business departments.
About You
* Good knowledge of commercial and contract law and legal research techniques, contract drafting and interpretation.
* Good knowledge of public procurement law and practice desirable.
* Has good legal judgement and appreciates legal risk.
* Good legal training, with evidence of some commercial legal experience.
* Previous in-house experience not necessary but would be welcome.
* Good IT skills, including electronic document production and assembly skills.
* Self-starter with ability to work as part of a team and to work proactively across and with a number of other functions.
* Relationship builder with drive to engage directly.
* Qualified lawyer (Solicitor/Barrister/Chartered Legal Executive) with, ideally, 5 years relevant post-qualification experience.
Package
This role will be full time Monday to Friday with a hybrid approach to working between our Durrington office and home. We are offering a competitive salary, depending on skills and experience as well as other benefits including:
* • Generous pension up to 11% company contribution
* 25 days annual leave
* Life assurance equal to 4x salary
* Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service)
* Health Cash Plan
* Full funded eye tests
* Two paid volunteering days a year
* Occupational health service
* Discounts with over 800 popular retailers
* Digital GP service
* Study support may be available for job-related qualifications
* Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options
* Cycle to work scheme
Join our Legal team and see how far your career could progress with a company committed to career progression, training and development opportunities, our customers and the environment.
Does this opportunity excite you but you're not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role? Or are you concerned that 'normal' office hours aren't possible given your personal circumstances? Whilst we can't accommodate every flexible working request, we'll try to find a practical solution. So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose. To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support - because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority. That's why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve. Joining the Southern Water family means you'll become part of our incident support team. During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position.
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