Head of Legal and Compliance
Contract type: Permanent, Full Time – 35 hours per week
Location: London, UK
UK hybrid working – a minimum of 40 % of working time is spent face-to-face (London office, external meetings or travel). 60/40 hybrid working at WaterAid means roughly three days wherever you work best and two days together in person.
Salary: £71,481 per year with excellent benefits.
Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future.
About WaterAid
We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.
About the team
The Head of Legal & Compliance sits within the Finance, Technology, Strategic Planning, Legal & Compliance Directorate and reports directly to the Executive Director of Finance, Technology, Strategic Planning, Legal & Compliance. You will manage Data Protection Manager, Fundraising Compliance Manager, Legal Counsel, Governance Officer.
About the role
As our WaterAid UK Head of Legal & Compliance, you will lead the Legal, Data Protection and Fundraising Compliance team in providing advice, support and challenge to ensure WaterAid complies with all applicable regulations and legislation and follows best practise. You will work closely with Trustees and Directors Team to drive sustainable change.
In this role, you will:
- Provide sound legal support and specialist advice to all levels of the organisation for contracts between WaterAid UK and third parties (including commercial contracts, contracts for services including consultancy contracts, fundraising contracts, donor/grant agreements and agreements with implementing partners, as well as media Intellectual Property and IT agreements).
- Prepare, negotiate and advise on commercial and legal matters relating to complex matters.
- Support the organisation to review contracts, to recognise and respond to risk, especially in relation to restricted income funding contracts.
- Lead and manage the main point of contact for all legal queries across WaterAid, referring to external advice only when necessary.
- Champion WaterAid’s commitment to equity, inclusion and safeguarding.
To be successful, you will need:
- A qualified solicitor (English law) with significate post-qualification experience.
- A combination of commercial and contract law and practice experience. Legal experience gained in‑house and private practice environment, including in international organisations, the charity sector experience is preferred but not essential.
- Proactive approach to identifying legal risks and providing pragmatic and balanced solutions, manage expectations; maintain confidentiality at all times and display high ethical standards.
- Ability to build credibility quickly and communicate effectively across different cultures and business needs with good written communication skills, able to convey information clearly and accurately.
Closing date: Applications close 12:00 PM UKtime on 5th May. Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 11th May and week commencing 18th May.
Benefits
- 36 days holiday (including 8 Bank Holidays)
- Option to buy an extra 5 days’ annual leave
- Employer pension contribution up to 10%
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
- Season ticket loan
- Free annual eye tests
- ‘Give as you Earn’ charitable giving scheme
- Enhanced parental leave (maternity, adoption/surrogacy, shared parental and paternity)
- Sabbaticals
- One paid volunteer day each year
Equal Opportunities
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.
Safeguarding
We are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero‑tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).
Together, we’ll change the world through water.
Join us and be part of the change!
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