Contracts Solicitor WCC618964

Job Details:

Salary range: £53,109 - £72,669 per annum   
Work location: Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, Kensington, London W8 7NX   
Hours per week: 36   
Contract type: Temporary up to 18 months (Maternity Cover)   
Closing date: 10 November 2024
Interview date:  Week commencing 18 November 2024
Contact details for an Informal Discussion: Kar-Yee Chan, Principal Solicitor (Contracts), via email: KYCHAN@WESTMINSTER.GOV.UK   

About Us:

THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE CARRICK YARD INVESTMENT 

The Legal Team in Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories, where we go above and beyond for our residents – in all sorts of pioneering ways. Our work has the ability to have profound impact on residents’ lives. By being smart and courageous with the council’s finances means we can achieve more for our residents. 

Take the Carrick Yard housing development in Luton Street. When a big international building firm couldn’t find a sales partner, we stepped in to create a joint venture partnership and underwrite any unsold units to protect our investment. Then when we felt a big banking partner would be overcharging the venture for financing the development, we decided to finance it ourselves. The result? 171 homes are now under construction, leading the redevelopment of the Church Street area, whilst the council is projecting a potential return on investment of almost 14% – far in excess of anything that can be achieved on cash deposits in current market conditions. 

And why does this success matter? Because it allows us to invest even more in public services that are the lifeblood of our communities. 

Please view the extraordinary story of the Carrick Yard Investment here.

The Role:

As a Solicitor within the Contracts & Procurement Team, you can make your own powerful contribution, providing expert legal advice and guidance to deliver the council’s objectives and priorities. We put people and businesses at the heart of everything we do. Providing efficient and cost-effective legal services ranging from the complex to the routine.

You’ll act independently on cases involving all contracts and procurement matters as well as public and local government.  Your caseload will include high profile, politically sensitive and financially weighted cases. You’ll draft and advise on reports for the Cabinet, Cabinet Members, Council Committees and Sub-Committees. 

Working closely with the Principal Solicitor and Director of Law you’ll proactively monitor changes in the law and ensure they align with the team and implement changes where necessary. The work we do is collaborative and offers real opportunity for growth and development through leading on significant legal projects. 

Please refer to the Job Description for more information. 

About You:

As an experienced solicitor or barrister, you’ll have a broad understanding of local government law and significant expertise in public procurement and contract law. A confident communicator, you’ll be able to challenge, influence and negotiate at the highest levels. Politically aware and savvy, you’ll have the ability to take a strategic view on all matters in regard to client priorities. 

Capable of working both independently and as part of a team, you respond well to pressure. And your commercial mind-set will ensure your success in this role. Compliant with internal procedures and processes, you’ll be flexible, solution focused and committed to delivering work of the highest quality. Able to work virtually, digitally and in person, your strong communication skills will support you and allow you to thrive in a variety of working environments.

The Council is committed to achieving diverse shortlists to support our desire to increase the number of staff from underrepresented groups in our workforce. We especially encourage applications from a global majority background and, while the role is open to all applicants, we will utilise the positive action provisions of the Equality Act 2010 to appoint a candidate from a global majority background where there is a choice between two candidates of equal merit. If you are from a Global Majority background, you can self-declare this to the hiring manager as part of our positive action commitments.

What We Offer:

Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster. Westminster City Council’s strategy is to work towards a Fairer Westminster. A Fairer Westminster is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city’s future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.   
 
At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. We encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, represents the communities we serve. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best, that is the Westminster Way. To find out more about how we do this visit  https://www.westminster.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/public-health-strategy-policies-and-reports/equality-duties  
 
As a forward-thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working.  
 
The Council is a Disability Confident Employer. If you have declared a disability in your application, we guarantee an interview if you meet the essential criteria of the job. If you are invited for interview, you will be asked if you need any reasonable adjustments in order to attend, and we will make these wherever possible.