Title:  Senior Lawyer, In House Counsel

About the role

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals, and we encourage you to join us as Great Britain’s energy system undergoes an ambitious, exciting, and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

The NESO Legal team provides full legal support for all areas of the NESO organisation and currently comprises 9 lawyers and 2 apprentice trainees. We are looking for an experienced commercial lawyer, with a track record of delivering high quality work and the ability to prioritise through excellent organisation, to join our well respected and growing inhouse legal team. 

You will be supporting on general commercial contractual arrangements, often with a technology focus (including AI), but will also assist on a variety of other corporate, commercial and regulatory matters. The Senior Commercial Lawyer will report to the Head of Legal and work across the organisation as a key enabling partner supporting primarily the Procurement, Digital, Data & Technology and Innovation teams.

This role can be based in Wokingham or Warwick, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home.

Key accountabilities

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements with suppliers and other third parties.
• Taking a practical, creative and proactive problem-solving approach to efficiently negotiate and finalize commercial agreements while advising business leaders on acceptable risk aligned with the organisation’s objectives, risk tolerance and compliance requirements.
• Providing practical and business-oriented legal advice to internal stakeholders.
• Advising on dispute resolution strategies and assist in resolving contractual disputes.
• Developing and maintaining standardized templates and contract negotiation playbooks as needed.
• Highlighting priority areas requiring legal support and agreeing with the relevant business partner action plans to address issues.
• Collaborating cross-functionally on legal, regulatory, and corporate matters.
• Supporting the development of more junior team members.
• Contributing to the development of workflows and processes needed to efficiently scale the legal function.
• Creating and presenting training materials to business teams on a variety of issues, including, legal best practices and current legal/regulatory issues, as required.

About you

We’re forging the path, and we know we can’t do it alone. That’s why we need visionary minds like yours to join us on this transformative journey. In this case, we’re looking for someone who has:

• Previous inhouse experience (or private practice lawyers who have good secondment experience).
• Strong technical legal skills, with substantial experience drafting and negotiating a broad range of commercial contracts, in particular technology related agreements.
• Public sector procurement contracts experience is highly desirable.
• Experience dealing with the data privacy related matters.
•  The ability to balance commercial and legal imperatives when dealing with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including drafting and communicating legal issues and solutions in a clear and concise manner.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Able to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborates and works with others across multiple legal and business teams.
• High ethical standards.
• Passionate about energy and the net-zero ambition and who has the drive to support and enable the business in its ambitions.

About what you'll get

A competitive salary between £86,000 - £96,000pa, dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a car allowance, a bonus of up to 20% of your salary for stretch performance, private medical insurance, 28 days annual leave as standard and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.

You will also have access to a comprehensive benefits package tailored to support your well-being and professional success. From a competitive salary to flexible work arrangements, we promote your work-life balance. Enjoy fit for purpose wellbeing and lifestyle offerings, ongoing skill development aligned to our Purpose and Values and be part of a supportive community that values your individuality and where you can belong.

About us

National Energy System Operator (NESO) has a key role to play in tackling climate change by transitioning GB’s electricity system to net zero. We already operate the fastest decarbonising electricity system in the world, with an ambition for zero carbon power operation by 2030 when there is sufficient renewable generation. We are also providing advice to the Government on achieving a decarbonised power system by 2030.

So, join the energy transformation and help shape the future.

Your energy, our future, together.

About the National Energy System Operator (NESO)

In Autumn of 2024, the ESO transitioned to National Energy System Operator, or NESO for short. Previously denoted as the Future System Operator (or FSO), the new National Energy System Operator is the independent body responsible for planning Great Britain’s electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system.  

NESO, including all of its existing roles, are now at the heart of the new National Energy System Operator. As NESO, we will build on our existing roles, capabilities, and ways of working significantly to create an organisation the energy system and its users’ need. Our new capabilities will enable us to look across vectors, including electricity, natural gas and hydrogen, and crucially consider the trade-offs between them.

The organisation is set up as a public corporation with its own Board of independent directors, with complete operational independence from government, the regulator and any and all commercial interest. As was the ESO, NESO will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements and obligated to identify optimal solutions to system operations and planning in the most sustainable, affordable and secure way for all.

The time to deliver is now. As part of our team, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in Great Britain – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

More information

This role closes on 16/04/2025 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

We work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office. 

We're committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve, and a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.

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