Principal Lawyer - Contracts & Procurement Vacancy

Royal Borough of Greenwich: Principal Lawyer - Contracts & Procurement Vacancy Fixed Term - 12 months (with potential to be extended)

PO8 Plus up to £5000 attraction payment dependent upon experience

Ready for your next challenge? Join a role offering real impact, variety, and leadership.

Are you a specialist Contracts and Procurement Lawyer with a proven track record in public sector work? Whether you've worked directly in local government or in private practice supporting public sector clients, this is a fantastic opportunity to lead on high-profile legal matters at the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

You'll play a vital role in shaping our legal function, embedding the changes from the Procurement Act, and supporting service transformation in how we approach contracts and procurement across the Council.

About Royal Greenwich

Royal Greenwich is proud to be a borough synonymous with first-class modern services. A World Heritage Site, our communities are vibrant and diverse, and our elected members are ambitious to realise the borough's full potential, even in a challenging financial climate.

Our Legal Services team is committed to excellence. We provide essential legal support to help the Council deliver its priorities - for the benefit of the borough and the communities we serve.

The Role

As Principal Lawyer (Contracts & Procurement), you'll act as the Council's strategic lead and expert legal adviser in your area. You'll handle a complex and varied caseload, advise senior officers and elected Members, and help shape the legal function as part of a high-performing team.

Reporting to the Assistant Head of Legal Services (Planning & Procurement), you will:

• Lead the Council's legal response to changes introduced by the Procurement Act.
• Provide high-quality, solutions-focused legal advice on all contracts and procurement matters.
• Carry a full caseload of complex and sensitive work involving goods, works and services.
• Represent Legal Services on commissioning and procurement boards.
• Support and mentor junior lawyers, helping to build expertise and share best practice.
• Contribute to the development of new policies and procedures.
• Oversee external legal advisors and act as the intelligent client.
• Deputise for the Assistant Head of Legal Services as needed.
• Provide legal advice to committees, Councillors, and senior leadership.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for an experienced and proactive legal professional with:

• A current practising certificate as a solicitor, barrister, or chartered legal executive (FILEX).
• Strong experience in public sector contracts and procurement, either in-house or in private practice with relevant clients.
• Excellent legal drafting, negotiation and communication skills.
• The ability to lead and manage legal work across teams and projects.
• A passion for mentoring junior staff and helping others to grow.
• A proactive and collaborative approach to working across services and external partners.
• A commitment to improving standards and delivering value for our community.

What We Offer

At Royal Greenwich, we invest in our staff and celebrate success. You'll benefit from:

• 29 days annual leave, rising to 32 after 5 years' service.
• Excellent local government pension scheme.
• Agile and hybrid working arrangements.
• Commitment to your learning and development.
• Annual season ticket loan.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Childcare Vouchers.
• A professional, values-led environment where your contribution matters.

How to Apply

Applications will be scored based on how well the Supporting Statement addresses the Person Specification. Please clearly demonstrate your experience and alignment with the essential criteria.

Royal Borough of Greenwich reserves the right to close any vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date should there be a high volume of applications received.