Legal Counsel

at  Smiths Group

JOB FUNCTION:

Legal and Compliance
About Smiths Group
At Smiths we apply leading-edge technology to design, manufacture and deliver smarter engineering solutions for mission-critical applications, solving some of the world’s toughest problems for our customers, our communities and our world. We are a FTSE100, global business of around 15,000 colleagues, based in 50 countries. Our solutions have a real impact on lives across the planet, enabling industry, improving healthcare, enhancing security, advancing connectivity, and supporting new homes. Our products and services are often critical to our customers’ operations, while our proprietary technology and high service levels help create competitive advantage. We welcome colleagues with a curious mind, who are happy with responsibility, enjoy a challenge and are attracted by the idea of working at a business with an almost 170-year history of innovation, and four global divisions, all experts in their field.
Job Description
Join Our Team: Legal Counsel
Location: Hybrid Working - Based ideally from our Hemel Hempstead HQ site
3 days in the office, 2 days from home
As a Legal Counsel, you will play a key role in providing legal support and guidance to various business units within Smiths Group, predominantly Procurement and our Business Information Systems (BIS) functions .
Based ideally from our Hemel Hempstead HQ site, you will work closely with internal stakeholders to draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, with a focus on software as a service (SaaS) agreements, licensing agreements, and other commercial arrangements.
This is a hybrid working role, offering flexibility and the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues globally.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the BIS and Procurement function to drive improvement, mitigate risk and deliver commercial improvement across indirect vendors throughout the organisation.
• Guide and support stakeholders from appointment and renewal ensuring appointment and renewal business cases and other governance tasks have been completed on time.
• Lead contracting activities incl. drafting and preparation of contract documents, framework agreements and amendments. Support negotiations for new / renewed vendor contracts with a focus on risk and cost reduction, periodically confirm compliance to contractual terms.
• Develop, maintain, and train contract templates, tools, policies, know-how and materials for appointment and renewal processes, co-ordinating with the legal team and other corporate stakeholders.
• Maintain oversight of global contract database.
• Develop strong relationships with procurement teams and other business stakeholders.
• Support any additional business activities as required.

The Individual

• Qualified lawyer in England and Wales (2 + years PQE)
• Proven experience in procurement agreements, commercial contract management including reviewing software, license and maintenance agreements.
• Experience of managing external counsel and related relationships and budgets.
• Commercial management of complex partnerships, channels, and subcontracts.
• Operating formal business and supply chain governance and contracting processes.
• Commercial contracts drafting and negotiation, specifically channel partner and service subcontractor agreements.
• Experience across the categories of Logistics, HR, Professional Services, Utilities, Software and Digital contracts.
• Good understanding of data privacy laws

Diversity & Inclusion
We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.
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• Support the BIS and Procurement function to drive improvement, mitigate risk and deliver commercial improvement across indirect vendors throughout the organisation.
• Guide and support stakeholders from appointment and renewal ensuring appointment and renewal business cases and other governance tasks have been completed on time.
• Lead contracting activities incl. drafting and preparation of contract documents, framework agreements and amendments. Support negotiations for new / renewed vendor contracts with a focus on risk and cost reduction, periodically confirm compliance to contractual terms.
• Develop, maintain, and train contract templates, tools, policies, know-how and materials for appointment and renewal processes, co-ordinating with the legal team and other corporate stakeholders.
• Maintain oversight of global contract database.
• Develop strong relationships with procurement teams and other business stakeholders.
• Support any additional business activities as required