General Counsel

at  The Open University UK

General Counsel
Advert Reference Number: 256
Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid
Department: University Secretary’s Office
Salary: £98,083 to £112,918
Closing Date: 30th September 2024
Weekly Working Hours: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Fixed Term Contract: End Date: Not Applicable
Welsh Language Standard: Not Applicable
:

WE BELIEVE THAT WHERE YOU START IN LIFE, SHOULDN’T LIMIT WHERE YOU GO.

The Open University is a unique institution created 50 years ago to open up education for all. We are open to anyone, anywhere, changing millions of lives across the world and always looking for new ways to help people succeed. Our pioneering use of innovative methods, such as our BBC partnership, means we reach more people than any other university.
Reporting to the University Secretary, the General Counsel is an important strategic position for an experienced practising lawyer who will advise the University on all matters which may have significant legal implications, legal risk, compliance and policy.
The successful candidate will be a qualified and practising solicitor who holds a current Practicing Certificate from the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority with significant post-qualification experience, coupled with affinity and empathy for the Higher Education sector and interest in its current and future developments. Such experience may have been gained beyond the Higher Education sector, in complex and highly regulated environments and you will have experience of team leadership.

The role holder will:

• Lead and advise on all legal matters arising from the activities of the University and its group, including but not limited to governance, commercial, contracting, research, employment, and student matters;
• Be responsible for supporting the University Council, University Secretary and the University’s senior executive from a legal perspective on significant issues and business that arise in the running of a University;
• Lead and manage the in house Legal Services Team, inspiring high performance to ensure the provision of effective and efficient legal support across a wide range of law operating in a complex organisation;
• Be responsible for the supervision of members of the Legal Services Team and ensuring compliance with appropriate Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Council requirements.
• Be responsible for the procurement and management of external legal services when required, ensuring quality and value is achieved;
• Management of the legal budget and resources within the roles responsibility.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be a minimum of one day per week.

As part of the application process, you will be expected to submit

• your CV
• a supporting statement that sets out why you are interested in this role and demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria listed above.

Applications will not be considered if both documents are not provided.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide overall leadership for all legal activities across the University and manage a full and diverse number of legal matters always taking a risk-based approach.
• Direct which matters require legal input and whether this should be provided internally or externally.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships, working with a broad network of staff across the University as a trusted and respected adviser, helping to position the Legal Services Team as a key strategic partner within the organisation.
• Manage and supervise the work of the inhouse team and direct and prioritise its work, to ensure quality of service and that all deadlines agreed with stakeholders are achieved.
• Provide legal advice to Council and the Executive to enable it to discharge its responsibilities legally and effectively.
• Provide legal advice to the University’s subsidiary and associated companies as required.
• Effectively manage all external legal advice ensuring it is properly instructed, managed, and represents quality and value for money, including the requirement to deliver within agreed budgets. Ensure that all external legal advice is secured in line with the University’s Procurement Policy.
• To keep up to date with relevant strategic, policy and service innovations, and relevant legal regulatory changes to inform best practice and continually drive excellence.
• Together with the legal team pro-actively identify legal and practical problems associated with the business of the University and establish methods to reduce potential risk or liability and facilitate communications, systems (formal and informal), measures and controls to ensure that the University fulfils its legal duty.
• General Counsel will provide strategic legal services and support to the University Secretary, as well as all other relevant stakeholders including senate and VCE and other Committees. Reporting directly to the University Secretary and working across the University, the General Counsel will also lead and have overall responsibility of the Legal team.

The role holder will:

• Lead and advise on all legal matters arising from the activities of the University and its group, including but not limited to governance, commercial, contracting, research, employment, and student matters;
• Be responsible for supporting the University Council, University Secretary and the University’s senior executive from a legal perspective on significant issues and business that arise in the running of a University;
• Lead and manage the in house Legal Services Team, inspiring high performance to ensure the provision of effective and efficient legal support across a wide range of law operating in a complex organisation;
• Be responsible for the supervision of members of the Legal Services Team and ensuring compliance with appropriate Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Council requirements.
• Be responsible for the procurement and management of external legal services when required, ensuring quality and value is achieved;
• Management of the legal budget and resources within the roles responsibility