Director of Legal Services

Job Location:

Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid

Department:
Legal Services

Closing Date: 12 February 2026

Weekly

Working Hours:

37

Contract Type:
Permanent

Fixed Term

Contract:

End Date:
Not Applicable

Welsh Language:
Not Applicable

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Reporting to the Director of Governance, Compliance and Legal Services, the Director of Legal Services will lead the University’s legal function and provide strategic, actionable advice on legal matters across the University.

The successful candidate will be a qualified solicitor who holds a current Practising Certificate from the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority. They will have significant post-qualification experience gained through operating in complex and highly regulated environments, ideally within the higher education sector, and a demonstrated history of service delivery and team leadership.

You will:

• Lead and manage the in house Legal Services Team, inspiring high performance to ensure the provision of effective and efficient legal support across a broad range of activities;
• Lead and advise on all legal matters arising from the activities of the University and its group, including but not limited to employment, commercial, contracting, research, governance and student matters;
• Be responsible for the procurement and management of external legal services when required, ensuring quality and value is achieved;
• Provide advice and support to the University Secretary and other senior leaders on significant legal issues that arise in the running of a University;
• Be responsible for management of the Legal Services budget and resources.

As part of the senior leadership team in Governance, Compliance and Legal services, support the Director in joint delivery of the Unit Business Plan, People Plan, objectives and KPIs, contributing to a culture of professional development, inclusive working practices, high engagement and motivation.

• Provide overall leadership for all legal activities across the University and manage a full and diverse number of legal matters, always taking a risk-based approach.
• Manage and supervise the work of the Legal Services team and direct and prioritise its work, ensuring deadlines are met and work is produced to a high standard.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships, working with a broad network of staff across the University as a trusted and respected advisor, helping to position the Legal Services Team as a key strategic partner within the organisation.
• Provide legal advice to the Executive to enable it to discharge its responsibilities legally and effectively, and to the University’s subsidiary and associated companies as required.
• Effectively manage all external legal advice ensuring it is properly instructed, managed, and represents quality and value for money, including the requirement to deliver within agreed budgets and in line with the University’s Procurement Policy.
• Keep up to date with relevant strategic, policy and service innovations, and relevant legal and regulatory changes to inform best practice and continually drive excellence.
• Together with the Legal Services team pro-actively identify legal and practical problems associated with the business of the University and establish methods to reduce potential risk or liability.
• Deliver or support service improvement interventions that realise key benefits for stakeholders, including through the use of AI tools.

• Educated to Degree or equivalent level of expertise and experience.
• Qualified Solicitor holding a current SRA Practising Certificate.
• Demonstratable recent post qualification experience with a minimum of 5 years at a senior level. This experience may have been gained outside of the Higher Education sector in the regulatory, commercial, or public sector or in private practice.
• Possessing…