Legal Counsel/Contracts Manager

We are seeking a Legal Counsel/Contracts Manager, who will report to Head of Legal, to be based in Alderley Edge, Cheshire. The legal team at NECSWS are responsible for ensuring the integrity of, and maximising the potential of, commercial contracts for the supply of a variety of services and solutions, both to and by the company and its group.  

The core functions of the department are: bid management, new customer contracts, governance and compliance, supplier and third-party agreements, risk assessment and mitigation, post-signature contract and dispute management, commercial education, training and awareness.  

NEC is an equal opportunities employer with a straightforward and all-embracing policy of equally treating all its employees, workers and job applicants.  The legal team is very pro-active and is respected as an integral part of the business process, embedded as a core function.  The business culture is professional without being overly formal. 

The role includes: 

• Leading on the negotiation of a variety of commercial contracts with customers, and (where required) suppliers to the company and its group, including software licensing, cloud hosting & SaaS contracts and support arrangements, supply agreements, outsourcing deals and consultancy arrangements;  
• Reviewing and responding to bids, reporting on legal and commercial risk and recommending appropriate mitigation strategies;  
• Advising and undertaking risk analysis in respect of existing contracts and new contract opportunities; 
• Drafting and negotiating contracts, including contract variations; 
• Management of contract documentation; 
• Review and updating legal and operational templates, including provision of training across the various business units;   
• Dealing with day-to-day enquiries from the business; 
• Assisting with disputes and litigation, liaising with external counsel as required; 
• Providing legal advice on matters affecting the business in a clear and concise manner as required, to all levels of personnel (including senior management);. 
• Engaging with the sales/project management teams to ensure compliance with business processes and procedures; 
• Supporting and encouraging the development of junior members of the team.  

NEC is seeking candidates with a solid understanding of complex commercial contracts, strong commercial acumen and negotiating skills. The candidate must be articulate and confident in communicating with a wide range of stakeholders – including at Executive Director  Level. The candidate must also be comfortable working in a fast-paced  environment and be able to work effectively under pressure. Influence, initiative, persuasion, adaptability and flexibility are also key soft skills for this role. 

The applicant will:  

• ideally have attained a legal qualification (e.g. law degree, SQE, qualified solicitor or legal executive). Experienced contract/commercial managers will be considered; 
• have a range of experience negotiating complex commercial contracts, preferably with a technology, software and/or IPR bias;  
• ideally have experience with public sector contracts and public procurement; 
• demonstrate effective communication skills and people skills;  
• have a proven track record of successfully working within a  team;  
• have the ability to ensure high professional standards are met and sustained;    
• be motivated and keen to learn; 
• have strong IT office skills. 

We pride ourselves in offering an excellent benefits package, including an above average pension scheme. When you join the team at NEC Software Solutions, you are provided with the following:

• Private Medical Cover funded by NEC for Employees (with the option to add family members at an additional cost) 
• 25 days paid holiday with the option to buy/sell 
• 4 x basic salary life assurance cover funded by NEC (with the option to increase cover at an additional cost)
• A Group Pension Plan with fantastic employer contributions up to a maximum of 8.5%
• A selection of flexible benefits to suit your individual needs 

Candidates must be able to demonstrate a pre-existing right to work and travel within the UK. Documentary evidence will be required.

All offers are subject to satisfactory vetting and reference checks. Depending on the nature of the role a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check may also be required.

NEC Software Solutions is an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from all communities. If you require any reasonable adjustments or have specific accessibility needs during the recruitment or interview process, please feel free to share these with us. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accommodating experience for all candidates.

Who we are?

We’re NEC Software Solutions (part of global tech giant NEC Corporation). While you read this ad, our software is helping to dispatch ambulances, support families, keep trains on the move, locate missing people and even test the hearing of newborn babies.

Working with us, you’ll be helping our 3,000+ employees push the boundaries of what’s possible and support amazing public services.

We work with governments, hospitals, police forces, housing providers, local authorities and more. We help them pay financial support faster, speed up treatments for patients and respond to emergencies in the right way. The more we do, the more our customers can do for others. And together, we make a world of difference.

We’d love your help. And we’ll support you all the way.