General Counsel and Director of Legal Services

The role

This is a rare and exciting opportunity for an experienced legal professional to lead and shape the legal services function of a leading UK university.  As General Counsel & Director of Legal Services, you will be the University’s principal legal advisor, responsible for ensuring legal compliance, managing risk, and providing strategic counsel to the Vice Chancellor and Executive Board on a wide range of matters.

Working closely with senior leadership, you will play a pivotal role in advising on governance, regulatory frameworks, and commercial matters, all while safeguarding the University's reputation and legal standing.  From major research partnerships and commercial ventures to student policies and employment law, your expertise will help navigate the complexities of the higher education sector.

You will lead a team of legal professionals, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, solution-focused legal services. Your ability to provide clear, pragmatic advice on complex legal matters will be crucial in supporting the University’s strategic goals and ambitions.

This is an exciting leadership role where you will not only oversee day-to-day legal operations but also contribute to our long-term institutional strategy, innovation, and compliance in a dynamic and evolving sector.

What will you be doing?

Key responsibilities of the role will include:

• Leading and managing a team of legal professionals, fostering a proactive and customer-oriented culture.
• Providing expert legal advice to senior management, interpreting legal requirements to mitigate risks.
• Overseeing the legal aspects of major projects, ensuring robust and commercially sound decisions.
• Maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of legislation affecting University operations and proactively advising on necessary actions.
• Managing our compliance with key regulations, including the Modern Slavery Act and Freedom of Speech policies.

You should apply if

You meet the following criteria:

• Qualified Solicitor with significant senior-level experience.
• Proven expertise in strategic delivery and management of legal services.
• Specialist knowledge in areas relevant to higher education (e.g., commercial contracts, intellectual property).
• Exceptional leadership skills with experience in building and motivating high-performing legal teams.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.

For a full view of our requirements and responsibilities, please refer to the attached candidate brochure.

Benefits of working for the University include:

• A total of 40 days annual leave per year including bank holidays
• Automatic entry to an extremely generous, hybrid pension scheme (both defined benefit and defined contribution elements)
• Hybrid working environment
• Inclusive culture, valuing the diversity of thought, beliefs and background

More details of our full offering can be found here: What we offer

Additional information

For informal queries, please contact:

Matt Ellis, Senior Resourcing Business Partner matthew.ellis@bristol.ac.uk

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Wednesday 5th March 2025. 

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