Legal Counsel - Commercial

At Severn Trent, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re in the top 5% of utility companies worldwide when it comes to employee engagement and ranked as a Top 50 UK Employer on Glassdoor. Join us in making a positive impact on the environment and our communities, while being valued and supported in a truly inclusive workplace.

If you want to do more, because you care, we want you on our team.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Are you a commercially minded lawyer who enjoys building relationships, solving complex challenges, and making a real impact within a business? We're looking for a Commercial Legal Counsel to join our collaborative and forward-thinking Legal team at Severn Trent to provide advice across a series of commercial, procurement, intellectual property and some data protection matters.

This is an exciting opportunity to work closely with colleagues across our Commercial, Technology and Innovation teams, supporting a wide range of strategic projects and initiatives. You'll provide practical, high-quality legal advice while helping the business achieve its goals in a way that balances opportunity and risk.

Working alongside experienced legal colleagues, including other commercial legal counsel, you'll be encouraged to bring fresh ideas, embrace new ways of thinking, and explore innovative technologies, including AI, to help shape how legal services are delivered in the future.

What You’ll Be Doing

As a trusted legal partner to the business, you'll provide expert support across a broad range of non-contentious  commercial, procurement, technology and intellectual property matters.

You'll:

• Build strong relationships with colleagues across the business, becoming a valued advisor and partner.
• Provide practical, commercially focused legal advice on contracts, procurement activities and strategic projects.
• Support technology, innovation and transformation initiatives that help drive the business forward.
• Assist with commercial negotiations and help deliver successful business outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Legal and the wider business to manage legal risk effectively.
• Keep abreast of legal and regulatory developments and help prepare the business for change.
• Develop and improve legal processes, policies, tools and guidance to support evolving best practice.
• Deliver training and raise awareness of key legal topics across the organisation.
• Manage external legal advisors where required to ensure high-quality and cost-effective support.
• Contribute to wider Legal team projects and initiatives that support the strategic objectives of Severn Trent.

HOW WE WORK

You'll be based at our Severn Trent Centre in Coventry. With this being such a critical role, we’re looking for someone who can join us 37 hours a week.

You'll join a caring culture that collaborates to achieve, grow, and develop. Our employee engagement scores are among the highest globally in energy and utilities. That’s why, we value in-person moments to keep our culture alive but also understand the flexibility working from home can bring. So, you'll usually find us in the office, but working from home is supported, when you need it.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We're keen to hear from qualified lawyers who are motivated by the opportunity to work closely with the business and help influence key decisions.

You'll bring:

• At least 2 years' post-qualification experience.
• Strong experience advising on commercial contracts and procurement matters.

• Knowledge of procurement, contract, technology, data and general commercial law.

• Experience supporting projects and working within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain legal concepts in a clear and practical way.
• A collaborative approach and natural relationship-building skills.
• Strong drafting, negotiation and problem-solving abilities.
• The confidence to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.

Experience within an in-house legal team, the utilities sector, technology procurement, or regulated industries would be advantageous, but we're equally interested in talented lawyers who are keen to broaden their experience and develop their careers.

Why join us?

At Severn Trent, you'll be part of a welcoming Legal team that values collaboration, innovation and continuous learning. We work closely with the business, tackling interesting challenges and supporting projects that make a real difference to our customers, communities and environment.

You'll have the opportunity to grow your expertise, work alongside experienced legal professionals, and contribute to shaping the future of a business that's committed to doing the right thing for its customers and the communities it serves.

If you're looking for a role where you can combine legal excellence with commercial impact while working with great people in a supportive environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Skills and experience are important, but character, positivity, and a caring attitude matter too. We welcome and celebrate diverse individuals, knowing they help us better serve our communities. We seek people who get involved, want to be part of something bigger, and make a difference because they care.

HOW WE’LL REWARD AND CARE FOR YOU

It’s not just a job you’ll get here, you’ll get a career too.

We have a range of benefits that reward and recognise great work and award-winning training to ensure you reach your potential. And we’ll also help you play your part in looking after the environment and the community in which we live.  

Here’s some of our favourites:  

• 31 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/ sell up to 5 days per year)
• Annual bonus scheme (of up to 20% per annum based on company performance)
• Car allowance – per annum up to £5,208
• Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)
• Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent Plc shares at a discounted rate
• Dedicated training and development with our ‘Academy’
• Electric vehicle scheme and retail offers
• Family friendly policies
• Two volunteer days per year

LET’S GO

We can't wait to hear from you! Have an updated CV ready and spare five minutes to apply. We'll let you know the outcome after the closing date, so keep an eye on your phone and emails.