Arriva is a leading provider of passenger transport across Europe, employing around 34,400 people and delivering around 1.6 billion passenger journeys. Arriva proudly connects people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably across 11 countries, delivering these services in a better way, every day.
We have an opportunity join our Mainland Europe (ME) business unit, a unit with strong growth potential and opportunity. The role of Legal Counsel comes as a unique opportunity for a commercially attuned legal professional to join the Mainland Europe team on an exciting journey to achieve future strategy and growth ambition.
The role will primarily focus on supporting the growth strategy of Mainland Europe through submission of tender bids for passenger transport services and corporate acquisitions across multiple jurisdictions in existing territories and future growth markets. The person in this role will join the Mainland Europe legal team to support, challenge and review a range of transactions entered into by the country teams. Alongside tender and M&A projects, the role will include high value procurement of rail and bus fleets, leasing agreements and managing the transition from diesel to clean vehicles across our estate.
The Mainland Europe legal team is led by the Head of Legal, who is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the team. Central to the role is the delivery of excellent legal support to facilitate the delivery of the strategic priorities of the Mainland Europe business unit and the management of legal risk within acceptable levels. The role will work closely with the Managing Director and Finance Director for Mainland Europe and with the Mainland Europe commercial team.
This role can be flexibly based across any of our Arriva offices, whether this be from London, Sunderland, or one of our European offices. The role will require a minimum of 2 days per week in the office with the rest focusing on where you can best deliver, whilst still allowing for the required work life balance. From time to time, the role will require travel to the Mainland Europe countries and to the UK to meet the needs of the business. The role operates Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week with 1 hour lunch per day.
Key responsibilities of the role include:
* Managing legal activity across a number of jurisdictions, including high value tendering activity and associated asset procurements (primarily rolling stock and bus) and growth through corporate acquisitions. This will include legal analysis of the tender documentation, concession agreements and ancillary documents, applying the relevant legislation and regulatory frameworks, and the provision of advice and support to the in-country teams.
* Ensuring transactions are managed in accordance with Arriva’s governance requirements including tender approval and contract approval policies.
* Assisting in the maintenance of Arriva’s regulatory compliance programme within Mainland Europe, to support corporate governance activities and to liaise with the Group Treasury department to obtain collateral security and credit facility agreements to the extent required.
What we'd like from you!
We’re looking for a qualified, experienced legal professional to join the ME team.
Candidates must be qualified to LLB level within Law, with post-qualification experience across complex matrix commercial and corporate environments.
A comprehensive commercial and skill set in Merges and Acquisitions is required. Procurement experience is welcome, but not essential.
Candidates must also:
* Show a willingness to develop their learning around the business and public transport sector, and have an appetite to travel within Mainland Europe when necessary.
* Demonstrate a positive track record delivering commercially sound guidance to various stakeholders within a business, with ability to develop deep working relationships across multiple jurisdictions.
* Show confidence and ability in decision making, from a risk and commercial perspective, able to resolve legal issues across all fields in an efficient and swift manner.
* Demonstrate confidence and ability to challenge, negotiate with and influence across management teams and senior stakeholders where necessary.
* Be able to support and manage lawyers across a number of European jurisdictions, and be able to instruct and manage external legal firms, acting as interface between these and the commercial teams within Arriva.
* Act as an active advocate of comprehensive corporate governance.
* Show pro-activeness and positivity with a solution orientated mindset.
* Be able to integrate and develop new members of the Legal team, offering guidance and support to these colleagues.
* Demonstrate analytical skills and ability to interpret information to all levels of stakeholders throughout Arriva, becoming a valued partner to colleagues.
* Have excellent communication skills, able to work collaboratively across their team and wider business.
* Demonstrate a structured and organized approach within their delivery, able to identify priorities and work to competing deadlines with ease.
What we can offer you in addition to a competitive base salary:
* True hybrid working – focusing on where you can best deliver for your customers, whilst still allowing for the required work life balance.
* A generous pension plan.
* Life Assurance plus access to one of the UK’s largest networks of medical professionals.
* 25 days holidays and statutory bank holidays per year (pro rata for mid-year joiners), and opportunity to purchase additional holiday in eligible windows.
* Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
* Access to discounts and cash back through ‘The Village’ – our Online Reward Gateway.
* Eyecare vouchers.
* The opportunity to join a Global Arriva Inclusion Network (GAIN) group- a community of people who are passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion.
* Free Arriva bus travel for you and immediate family outside of London – T&C’s apply
* And a truly wonderful team to be joining!
Why work for us?
Arriva is a people focused business. In every part of Arriva, our people deliver high standards of customer service and work together to demonstrate kindness, determination, and resilience.
Our values were created by Arriva people. They guide our actions and the way we work, helping to reflect and shape our culture. They focus on caring, integrity and making the difference.
Our people choose to work for us, and to stay with us, because we are a great place to work. At Arriva, we strive to create a culture where we can all be ourselves, where we belong, feel respected and our differences celebrated.
We actively seek out and value difference. We want our business to reflect the wide range of communities in which we operate, so we can serve them even better.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 23rd October 2024. Arriva Group reserve the right to close this vacancy early.
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