Lawyer - Contracts and Procurement (eligible for £7,500 Welcome Payment)

• Lawyer_Contract___Procurement_JD_PS_May26_final
• Candidate_Pack_-_Communities_Directorate_-_PS_-_May_2026
• Welcome_payment_for_Lawyer_C_P

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please include a personal statement with your CV specifying why you are applying for this vacancy.

Legal excellence is our standard and innovation is how we deliver it.

This is a chance to join Bracknell Forest Council as a Contracts and Procurement Lawyer and be part of a forward-thinking legal team where high-quality advice, collaboration and innovation go hand in hand. You will work in an environment that values flexibility, supports professional growth and actively embraces modern tools and smarter ways of working to deliver real impact.

At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices, including options for remote working and arrangements that allow you to work from home, dependent on the needs of the service.

The role is full-time and permanent, with an expectation to attend our Time Square office at least one day per week, alongside flexible working arrangements.

About you…

We are looking for a Contracts and Procurement Lawyer who enjoys variety, values high-quality advice and wants to work in a modern local government legal team where learning, teamwork and smart ways of working are genuinely encouraged.

Whether your background is local government, in-house, private practice or a mix, if you are confident advising on contracts and procurement and want to work with visible impact, we would love to hear from you.

About the team…

You will join a collaborative Legal Services team delivering contracts and procurement advice across the council. The team works closely with commissioning and project teams and embraces innovation, including in‑house Microsoft Copilot tools and external platforms such as CoCounsel. The role is based at our Bracknell offices, with flexible and hybrid home‑working arrangements supported.

We are committed to using technology sensibly to improve quality, turnaround and consistency. The council supports the use of Microsoft Copilot (available to all employees) and the Legal Service also uses a specialist legal AI database to support research, horizon scanning and drafting.

Used responsibly and with professional judgment, these tools help us to:

• streamline first drafts and improve document consistency;
• spot issues earlier and strengthen quality assurance;
• accelerate research and keep pace with fast-moving change, and
• free up time for higher-value work: strategy, negotiation, risk assessment and stakeholder support.

You do not need to be an “AI expert”, we will support you to adopt our tools confidently and appropriately as part of everyday practice.

Key responsibilities…

• Provideclear, pragmatic legal advice on contracts, procurement and related governance matters across the council.
• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of documents, including contracts, framework agreements, deeds, notices, orders, consents and letters.
• Advise on procurement compliance and route-to-market options, including matters arising from the Procurement Act 2023, PCR 2015, and Provider Selection Regime (where applicable), ensuring solutions are lawful, proportionate and deliverable.
• Contribute legal comments on waivers, breach notices and strategic procurement plans and help clients understand risk and options.
• Advise on and deal with all legal matters relating to subsidy control.
• Work closely with the legal department’s Senior Contracts and Procurement Lawyer in the provision of the service.

Our benefits…

• 28 days annual leave increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance.
• Paid employee volunteering scheme.
• Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility).
• Reimbursement of one annual professional subscription/registration.
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply).
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing
• Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.

Find out more about all our benefits or see the candidate pack.

Our values...

At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Reasonable adjustments...

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process. Find out more about reasonable adjustments.

Interview date...

Interviews will be held in June 2026 with the exact date to be confirmed.

Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.

We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.

Want to ask us a question?

For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:

Helen Brewster - Assistant Borough Solicitor (Place Team) - Tel: 01344 352037

Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment.

We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.

Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.

No agencies please.