SENIOR LAWYER (CORE PAYE CONTRACT ROLE) Our client, a Major Oil and Gas Operator based in Westhill is seeking a Senior Lawyer to join their team on a core PAYE contract basis initially until November 2025. Hybrid working (3 days in the office and 2 days working from home) is available for this position. CRITICAL CONTACTS & ENVIRONMENT: The Legal Department provides a legal and commercial advisory service to the client and also provides a Company Secretarial service. Matters include: matters which are highly sensitive within the company or where the matter is of interest beyond the business; highly complex matters where the law may not provide a black or white answer and where legal documentation is frequently complex; matters which may be politically sensitive e.g. seen as high risk or commercially very important to the whole company. MAIN ACTIVITIES: Carry out the activities of the job. Be responsible for meeting agreed objectives. Act in the best interest of the company at all times. Seek out learning opportunities and transfer new skills and knowledge to the job. Proactively seek advice from and consult with senior lawyers in the team. Adhere to the values and principles of the company Code of Conduct at all times. Openly question established practices and achieve continuous quality and commercial improvements. Willingly and openly share knowledge and good practice, providing legal support to all group entities operating in the United Kingdom. Actively identify best practice (industry, technical, professional, etc.) and share with other members of the team in a structured manner, for example, by presenting at team meetings and/or preparing briefing notes. Develop value awareness and think in terms of cost/benefit trade-off. Adapt creative and alternative approaches to problem-solving by initiating proposals for improvement Under the supervision of a senior lawyer in the team or, when considered appropriate by the General Counsel. Carry out research, provide summaries and analysis of legal issues required and/or instruct external counsel to carry out this work when deemed appropriate by the General Counsel. Provide legal advice on a portfolio of matters, some of which may be handled over some months, to ensure that all matters are handled professionally and successfully. Maintain a professional awareness of Legal developments relevant to the industry and with internal compliance requirements. As requested by the General Counsel, assist in the discharge of the company secretarial function of the Legal Department, preparing documents for the signature of the company's Managing Director, together with appropriate explanation (e.g. summaries of documents) in support the Company Secretary. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS: Law degree in a recognised jurisdiction. Fully qualified lawyer in a recognised jurisdiction. Experience, including practicing at a senior level as a commercial lawyer, gained in private practice or industry (minimum 5 years qualified), preferably with 3 years or more experience of legal practice as an upstream oil and gas lawyer.