Job Scope:
The Head of Legal is responsible for providing legal advice and guidance to the charity across a range of matters from contracts to charity law. The post holder will also be responsible for managing various compliance matters and have particular responsibility for management of the Society’s data protection programme. They will act as one of the key liaison points for external legal advisors. Reporting to the CFO, they will assist in strategic decision making by providing advice on legal matters and identifying legal and compliance risks. They will ensure compliance with statutory, regulatory, donor and sector requirements and advise the charity on upcoming legislative change that may affect it. They will have functional responsibility for ensuring that GDPR is managed across the charity and for implementing and updating internal protocols on the management of personal data.

WORKING WITH OTHERS

• Actively seeks ideas and feedback from within the team and regularly seeks feedback from across the organisation.
• Is able to resolve conflicts within and between teams and ensures processes in place to avoid repetition in future.
• Embeds feedback processes within the team constructively.
• Has an existing network that is useful for the Society and actively ensures new relationships are built and maintained.
• Able to present complex issues simply and is solution focused.
• Uses discretion, tact and empathy when negotiating with and/or seeking to influence others.
• Demonstrates compassion in delivering hard messages, is experienced in having difficult conversations and can put appropriate support in place when necessary
• Leads and facilitates group discussions, clarifies issues and keeps conversations focused, productive and constructive.
• Acts as a role model internally and externally, continuously demonstrating excellence and regard for the value of building shared vision and direction.
• Remains calm and assured in front of challenging audiences, is a confident networker, presenter and chair.
• Looks for opportunities to assemble a diverse group to discuss respective views.
• Keeps people at the table by articulating an outcome or goal that engages and encourages active participation.
• Shares resources across organisational boundaries to meet Society needs.
• Uses negotiation skills and adaptability to encourage recognition of joint concerns, collaboration, and to influence the success of outcomes.
• Understands and acts upon the corporate role of being a Head of department.
• Supports SMT on workstreams, and works alongside other Heads and Directors comfortably.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO OFFER SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE.

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer
Line manages: N/a
Pay band: G
Salary: £75,000 Pa
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week/ Part time considered
Location: Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG plus the option for some hybrid remote working
Closing date for applications: Midnight 3 August 2025
Interviews will be held: WC 11 August and WC 18 August 2025
Responsibilities:
The postholder will provide advice to colleagues across the organisation on legal issues, in particular considering contracts, personal data agreements, gift agreements and legislative updates. They will act as one of the Society’s key points of contact with its legal advisers on queries of this nature.
The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that the Society remains compliant with data protection legislation, overseeing data privacy risks and ensuring the organisation adheres to relevant regulations. They will develop policies, processes and procedures to maintain best practice in this area and ensure the Society’s readiness for forthcoming legislative changes. They will ensure that key policies and procedures are followed and report on matters of non-compliance to the Audit Committee, and where relevant, regulators.
The confidence to provide authoritative advice to colleagues founded on comparable experience in other organisations will be critical.
Specific responsibilities are listed below.

PAY BAND G – ROLE DESCRIPTOR AND COMPETENCIES

At Band G you will hold a role as a Head of (Function) or equivalent Senior Management position. Pay Band G roles are described in the following dimensions:
Decision-making - You head up a specific team, making decisions that translate Royal Society strategy into operational plans and outcomes. Your objectives and results of the role are largely agreed, but you are fully accountable for deciding how to achieve these outcomes and results and will be expected to balance short and long-term risks and benefits. You will be part of the corporate internal decision-making processes and your views will lend themselves to future plans and strategies.
Thinking challenges – You strategically plan how to deliver your objectives and plans, achieving organisational outcomes. You drive and implement change across key strategic goals and projects, which are likely to involve cross-organisational solutions. You are aware of conflicting demands across the range of Society activities, and take a leadership role in where your function fits in. You are an expert voice on your individual workstream both internally and externally.

Communications - You make, maintain and nurture a range of internal and external relationships with the aim of any of the following:

• Ensuring effective internal working and collaboration
• Marketing or representing aspects of Royal Society work
• Influencing external developments
• Ensuring the organisation is kept informed on your functions work and progress.

Developing people – You are directly responsible for managing a range of staff, project teams, third parties and others who contribute to the work of Royal Society. You have a corporate responsibility as a Head of department to embody the values of a good manager and leader and will take a role in not only the line management and development of your own team but the nurturing and mentoring of others teams or those you work closely with.
Managing Resources – You have formal budget accountability and may have income accountability; you influence the broader management of Royal Society resources and priorities the use of resources to support delivery of cross-functional goals. You are the lead for the structure of your own department, and planning the roles and duties you will need to meet your objectives, and planning the resource and support you will need from other departments.
Applying knowledge & expertise - You possess broad management and professional expertise that enables you to manage an important area of work and look beyond the horizons of your own specialism. You will be the lead on this specialism in an ambassadorial role for the Society.
The competency levels for a pay Band G role are described below.