Senior Commercial Lawyer – Public Sector

Senior Commercial Lawyer – Public Sector

Locations: Belfast, Bristol, or London (at least 3 days a week on site).

About The Role

BT operates fixed and mobile networks that cover 99% of the UK’s non‑residential premises, underpinning critical national infrastructure and public services. We support more than three million end‑users through our UK wholesale operations.

BT is hiring two Senior Lawyers to focus on Defence, Major Government, Local Council and Health Sector matters. This is an exciting opportunity to join the BT Business legal team as a senior lawyer. You will work with cross‑functional teams across BT to deliver high‑quality legal support and advice on complex commercial and legal matters, helping BT Business achieve its strategic goals.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead legal support on high‑value, complex UK S&C transactions, shaping bid strategy and engaging directly with customers, subcontractors, and legal counterparts.
• Partner with bid, technical, and procurement teams to define contractual and commercial approaches, including RFPs and flow‑down terms.
• Draft, negotiate, and conclude complex contracts across customer, supplier, and partnership agreements, ensuring commercial and legal robustness.
• Manage in‑life contractual issues, disputes, and change controls, including adapting to regulatory and legislative changes.
• Navigate complex supply chains, negotiating operating agreements and ensuring alignment across multiple subcontractors.
• Provide expert guidance on regulatory, governance, and compliance matters, ensuring adherence to BT policies, competition law, and industry regulations.
• Deliver clear legal briefings and risk escalations, influencing senior stakeholders and supporting informed decision‑making.
• Build strong cross‑functional relationships, support legal delivery through external partners, and contribute to team strategy and capability development.

Essential Skills / Experience

• Security clearance: eligible to obtain DV clearance; UK citizenship with 10+ years continuous residence.
• PQE: must be a qualified lawyer (or have equivalent legal experience) of at least 8 years.
• Experience with Single Source Contract Regulation, qualifying defence contracts, sub‑contracts and associated requirements.
• Proven record in a fast‑paced legal environment, with extensive commercial contract experience in Telecoms and Technology sectors; familiarity with contract law, data privacy, competition law, advertising regulation, and financial services regulation.
• Public sector experience dealing with public sector contracts (prime agreements and related sub‑contracts), and understanding of public procurement legislation and policies.
• Risk management: expert understanding of balancing contractual risk with commercial return, and link between commercial drivers and contractual terms.
• Strong relationship and stakeholder skills: track record of developing positive relationships internally and externally, influencing and inspiring senior stakeholders.
• Regulatory knowledge of legislation and regulations impacting micro and small businesses, including Ofcom regulations, advertising regulation, financial services regulation, and data protection legislation.

Desirable Skills / Experience

• Communication & analytical skills: ability to build the case for change and communicate complex matters to the business, managing senior stakeholders.
• Business acumen: knowledge of business strategy and organisational performance drivers, including financial literacy.
• Pragmatic and solutions‑driven approach.
• History of pro‑actively taking on additional responsibilities, such as project team involvement or leadership.
• Track record of working with limited oversight or supervision.

Our Package

• Company car scheme (or cash alternative)
• 15% on‑target annual bonus
• Private healthcare for you and your family
• Access to an online private GP 24/7 for you and your immediate family
• Market‑leading paid carer leave of up to 2 weeks
• Equalised maternity, paternity and adoption leave – 18 weeks full pay and 8 weeks half pay
• Discounted EE and BT products, including mobile and broadband
• Market‑leading pension scheme – 5% from you and 10% from us
• Holiday purchase scheme

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