University of Sussex
Head of Legal Services Ref: 43631
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About The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join and lead a busy and successful in-house legal team. The Legal Team is part of the Division of General Counsel, Governance & Compliance (GCGC), within the University’s Professional Services Team.
The work of the Legal Team is fast-paced, often reactive and integral to delivering the University’s policy and operational priorities. The legal issues are often complex and sensitive and span a variety of topics, cover the full range of legal and regulatory issues facing the University including academic partnerships, student and staff complaints and disciplinary matters, freedom of speech and academic freedom, employment, regulatory compliance, commercial contracts, intellectual property, real estate, construction projects and litigation.
The Head of Legal will ensure and manage the provision of high-quality legal services to the University and work collaboratively with senior University leaders and colleagues across Faculties and Professional Services to deliver solutions-based advice which is centred on a sound assessment of legal risk.
You will be expected to enhance the legal services function and provide effective management of the Legal Team with a focus on increasing impact and teamworking to support the delivery of Sussex 2035, Creating Progressive Futures, the University’s long term strategy.
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About You
You will be a senior lawyer with significant experience gained in the public or private sector who has worked as in house counsel. You will have experience of leading a legal team and driving functional improvement. You will combine exemplary technical legal analytical skills with the ability to make decisions in the face of ambiguity and imperfect information.
You will thrive in a dynamic environment helping the University adapt to a fast changing legal and regulatory environment.
About Our Division
We drive good governance and high-quality decision making to support the delivery of the University’s strategic and operational objectives by providing professional legal, governance and information management advice to help the University realise opportunity and manage risk.
We support governance across the University to ensure high quality decision making which keeps pace with our changing needs. Also, we oversee and drive compliance with key legislative and regulatory requirements.
Please find further information regarding the division at General Counsel, Governance and Compliance: University of Sussex.
Why Work Here
Our university is situated off the A27, next to the beautiful South Downs where you will enjoy everything that our 150-acre campus has to offer. We are accessible by public transport; Falmer train station is a five-minute walk to campus and several bus stops are located within campus. We also have dedicated cycling paths and encourage our staff to use these with our offering of a cycle to work scheme.
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Sussex is a renowned, multi-accredited, research-led International University and this is only possible because of the people that work here. Whether you are a member of Faculty, part of a Professional Services team or a Student, it’s our people that make us great and we want you to be part of that.
Find Out More About Our Reward And Benefits Package.
Find out about our equality, diversity and inclusion.
Further Key Information
Please contact Laila El Baradei (l.elbaradei@sussex.ac.uk) for informal enquiries.
The University of Sussex values the diversity of its staff and students, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
Eligibility
Visa Sponsorship Queries: This role is eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. The assigned SOC code is 2419 Legal professionals not elsewhere classified and the going rate is £33,400.
The University requires that work undertaken for the University is performed in the UK.
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