Contracts Solicitor WCC618964

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.

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 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., 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.