Title: Solicitor - Health, Safety & Environment
Location:
Advertised Salary: £90,000.00
Job Function: People Services
Working Hours: 37
Location Type: Hybrid
Contract Type: Permanent
Job Purpose
An exciting opportunity for a lawyer specialising in Health, Safety & Environment to join our experienced General Counsel team.
Safety is at the heart of all that we do to deliver gas to around 11 million homes and businesses in the UK. Our health, safety and environment lawyer provides essential legal advice and strategic input right across the business to support this; as well as advising on our sustainable commitments and net zero ambitions.
Key Responsibilities
This role will suit a lawyer who already possesses health, safety and environmental knowledge. Experience of the utilities sector – either in private practice or in-house – is also helpful but not essential.
The role involves close collaboration with business teams and external legal experts to provide:
1. Specialist legal advice on health, safety and environmental issues, both contentious and non-contentious. This core part of the role includes advising on our obligations under key health and safety legislation, such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996, Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996; and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. Training can be provided in respect of the specialist gas legislation if required. Support will also be required in relation to Cadent’s policies and procedures and operational delivery systems as we move towards Cadent’s net zero future.
2. Incident support and assistance with the investigative process (both conducting internal investigations and responding to investigations by the police or regulatory bodies); undertaking or instructing external lawyers (and experts) in relation to representation in court matters (including Inquests and Inquiries); and joining the 24/7 out of hours emergency legal standby rota, providing advice remotely.
3. Support on New Roads and Street Works Act and Highways Act obligations/response to prosecutions (with training and support if required); and responses to customer queries and service improvement initiatives.
You will also:
1. Collaborate with business teams to identify and implement strategies that mitigate risk and enhance ongoing projects. Your proactive approach will ensure seamless integration and impactful results.
2. Manage external providers to deliver timely, budget-friendly advice that aligns with business objectives and maximizes value for money. Your oversight will be crucial in achieving strategic goals and mitigating risks.
Skills and Experience
Experience:
1. Expertise in Health, Safety, and Environmental Matters: Specialist knowledge and experience in advising on both contentious and non-contentious issues.
2. Strong Communication Skills: Excellent communicator with the ability to listen effectively in team or commercial environments.
3. Leadership and Training: Capable of developing and training team members and business colleagues, and leading process initiatives to drive efficiency.
4. Strategic Influence: Ability to contribute to high-profile projects and influence through a broad range of internal and external contacts.
5. Commercial Awareness and Management: Sound commercial awareness of the operating environment, with the ability to manage competing priorities and experience in project, contract, or relationship management.
The role can be performed on a hybrid basis with a flexible blend of home and office working.
What’s In It for You
Here at Cadent, we recognise that our people are truly unsung heroes. Quietly confident, delivering every day - that’s why we’re committed to supporting our people to get the best out of themselves. For this role, we offer:
1. Private Medical Insurance for you, your partner and your family available through MyChoices, our flexible benefits programme, with access to a 24 hour Bupa HealthLine.
2. 25 days’ holiday, plus 8 statutory days and an option to buy or sell holiday days.
3. An Annual Performance Bonus of up to 20% of your salary.
4. A generous pension scheme where the company double matches your contributions up to 12% i.e. if you contribute 6% a month, the company will contribute 12%.
5. A competitive salary that’s reviewed each year against the market median salary for your role, skills, knowledge and experience.
6. Generous family policies and flexible benefits.
7. A free Employee Assistance Line where you can get support and advice on any of the challenges you’re facing, completely confidentially.
8. Support to help you cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions, course fees, books, examination fees and time off for study leave – so long as it’s relevant to your role.
9. Plus many more benefits that help you join the dots between your work and home life!
We support a healthy work-life balance and are open to flexible working options.
Diversity and Inclusion
Don’t meet every requirement? No problem! If you’re excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification mentioned, we would still love for you to submit your application – you may just be the right person for this role or other opportunities at Cadent.
We value diversity and are committed to being an equitable employer. Our employee communities – Women in Cadent, Pride at Work (LGBTQ+), Embrace (ethnicity and religion), Thrive! (disability), the Cadent Military Community, the Grief Awareness Community, and the Men's Engagement Network (M.E.N) – can’t wait to welcome you!
What’s next?
To be considered for this role, please submit your application with an up-to-date CV and our Talent Acquisition team will get in touch soon. To learn more about Cadent, visit our website at Home | Cadent.
Be part of something big. Help shape the future of gas for generations to come.
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