UKIFS Head of Legal and Governance (General Counsel)

Description

The postholder acts as principal legal adviser to the Board, C-Suite and Executive Team, ensuring that all activity operates within the law and in accordance with the highest standards of governance, ethics, and regulatory compliance. They lead the in-house legal and company secretarial teams and provide strategic direction over the Company’s engagement with external legal advisors, influencing company policy, managing legal and regulatory risk, and representing the organisation’s interests externally in legal, regulatory and stakeholder forums.

UKIFS will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year.

The Head of Legal and Governance (General Counsel) is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic direction, delivery, and continuous improvement of the UKIFS legal and governance functions.

• Influence and shape organisational policy and strategy through expert legal and governance advice at Board and Executive level.
• Oversee the negotiation, drafting, and review of contracts, agreements, and other legal documents to ensure compliance with legal requirements and protect the company's interests.
• Develop and implement internal policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure legal compliance, risk management, and ethical conduct throughout the organization.
• Represent the organisation in major legal negotiations, arbitrations, and strategic partnerships, ensuring outcomes align with business and ethical standards.
• Oversee the Company Secretary and Executive Office functions, providing clear leadership and guidance to ensure effective delivery.
• Act as the senior authority for interpreting and applying legislation affecting the organisation, including corporate, regulatory, employment, environmental, and commercial law.
• Provide expert legal counsel and guidance to senior management and a wide range of legal issues, including corporate governance, regulatory compliance, contracts, employment law, and litigation matters
• Engage with external stakeholders including regulators, government departments (in particular UKIFSs sponsor department, DESNZ), industry bodies, and professional networks to represent the organisation’s position and shape policy outcomes.
• Manage departmental budget, prioritising expenditure and ensuring value for money in legal services and external advice.
• Oversee the preparation of legal and compliance reports for the Board, Audit and Risk Committee, and regulators.
• Provide effective legal oversight, advice and guidance across UKIFS teams.
• Provide strategic leadership of UKIFS governance, compliance, and ethics frameworks, ensuring integrated systems and best practice.
• Oversee management of all disputes, litigation, claims, and regulatory investigations, ensuring appropriate strategies are in place to minimise risk and cost.
• Help drive leadership intent and priorities throughout the organisation, ensuring understanding and helping continuously improve organisational effectiveness
• Identify legal risks and opportunities that may impact the company's operations or objectives, and develop proactive strategies to mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities
• Act as a trusted adviser to the Board Chair and Chief Executive on governance effectiveness, risk appetite, and regulatory relationships.
• Provide legal and governance input into corporate strategy, business planning, and investment decisions.
• Lead the effective delivery of a world-class legal service to UKIFS as it transforms into a company with a complex operating structure and multiple large delivery partners.
• Build and lead a high-performing Legal and Corporate Governance team in UKIFS, including the Company Secretary and UKIFS Executive Office, providing guidance, mentorship, and support.
• Monitor and evaluate emerging legal, regulatory and political developments, advising the Board on strategic implications and positioning.
• Contribute to maintaining a respectful and collaborative workplace, valuing diversity, and promoting teamwork.
• Act as a cultural ambassador, representing our organization's values and professionalism in interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to team members, promoting professional development.
• Oversee the engagement, and performance of external legal firms and, ensuring alignment with the company's legal needs, value for money, quality standards, while fostering productive and collaborative relationships to support the achievement of strategic objectives
• Manage and oversee legal disputes, litigation, and regulatory proceedings involving the company, and work with external counsel as necessary to resolve disputes in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Develop and implement the organisation’s legal strategy to ensure it supports long-term business sustainability and aligns with corporate priorities.
• Foster a positive and inclusive team environment that aligns with our cultural values.
• Partner with senior management and the Board to enable transparent, accountable decision-making.
• Develop a strong understanding of the business and ensure effective legal support to UKIFS in delivery of its objectives.
• Ensure full compliance with statutory, regulatory, and governance requirements, including Companies Act duties, industry regulations, competition law, and public reporting obligations.
• Provide strategic leadership for all legal services across the organisation, ensuring advice and support enable the delivery of objectives while safeguarding compliance and reputation.
• Lead for legal on major legal negotiations, contracts, joint ventures, partnerships, and other complex commercial transactions.
• Establish key performance indicators for legal and governance performance and oversee regular reporting to senior leadership.
• Champion integrity and ethical business practices, embedding compliance and accountability throughout the organisation.
• Act as the senior approver for all legal submissions, and compliance attestations.
• Influence and shape governance policies at a strategic level, aligning with long-term organisational goals and regulatory expectations.
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of governance structures and processes.
• Advise the Board and CEO on significant legal risks and mitigations, exercising sound, independent judgment on matters of corporate significance.
• Ensure robust systems of legal and governance assurance are in place and integrated into the organisation’s risk management framework.

Requirements

Accountability 4: Leadership, People and Organisational Capability

• Knowledge and understanding of public sector procurement regulations, UK public sector law, Companies Act.
• Understanding of public sector governance frameworks and regulatory requirements.
• Make informed decisions and solve problems effectively, considering diverse perspectives and organizational goals
• Experience working in a matrix and project-based environment, and with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Significant experience as senior legal advisor in an organisation significant in size and/ or complexity.
• Extensive expertise in a broad spread of legal areas to cover employment, property, JVs and other partnering or collaboration models, procurement, corporate governance.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to build inspire and motivate teams.
• Track record of dealing with complex matters with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent ability to operate, influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders.
• Degree level or equivalent experience
• Ability to work in a complex, fast-moving and evolving environment.
• Creative problem solver with a demonstrated ability to tailor communication style to diverse audiences and creatively resolve negotiation barriers.
• Experience working in both public and private sectors.
• Track record of deploying strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to provide strategic legal advice.
• Insightful business awareness with the ability to understand analyse changing business context and landscape to: assess and manage risk, capitalise on emerging opportunities, make sound evidence-based judgements and promote the interests of company.
• Qualified lawyer with significant post qualification experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, negotiation and collaboration skills.
• Experience of working with new organisations and making them thrive, with an ability to work in an adaptable and agile manner.
• Experience performing or overseeing the Company Secretary function in an organisation
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

Benefits

The salary for this role is £83,421 and excellent benefits including outstanding pension.

Onsite working is expected for 3 days each week, however, we actively support requests for Flexible Working.

• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays.
• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders,
• Flexible working options including family friendly policies.
• Wide range of career development opportunities.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance