Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel (Part-Time, 12-Month Maternity Cover)

• Hybrid
• Circa £50,000 Pro Rata (Equivalent to £80,000 FTE) + Car Allowance + Bonus
• Flexible Working Pattern: 3-4 full days per week or 5 shorter days

At The Compleat Food Group, we're on a mission to create tasty food that's better for people and the planet. We call it Food to Feel Good, and we're looking for an experienced Legal Counsel to join us on a 12-month maternity cover contract.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded lawyer seeking a flexible role within a fast-paced, growing food manufacturing business. With significant autonomy and variety, you'll work closely with senior stakeholders across the Group, providing pragmatic legal advice that supports commercial decision-making and business growth.

Why This Role?

We're flexible on how you work. Whether you prefer 3 to 4 full days per week or shorter hours spread across 5 days, we're open to finding a pattern that works for both you and the business. Ideally, you'll be available on Tuesdays and Fridays, but we're happy to discuss flexibility with the right candidate.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Legal, you'll provide legal guidance across a broad range of commercial and operational matters, helping the business manage risk while supporting strategic objectives.

Key areas of responsibility will include:

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements, including customer, supplier and confidentiality contracts.
• Advising stakeholders on procurement and operational matters to ensure legal and contractual risks are effectively managed.
• Supporting property-related transactions and liaising with external legal advisers.
• Managing and advising on commercial disputes, customer claims and supplier issues.
• Providing guidance on intellectual property matters, including trademarks and product design protection.
• Advising on data protection and privacy matters, ensuring compliance with UK GDPR and related legislation.
• Supporting legal governance, compliance initiatives, policy reviews and legal awareness training across the business.

About You

We're looking for someone who can combine strong legal expertise with a practical, commercially focused approach.

You'll ideally have:

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales with at least 5 years' PQE.
• Experience gained in-house or within a commercial law firm.
• Strong commercial contracts experience.
• Exposure to a broad range of legal matters including intellectual property, property, disputes and data protection.
• The ability to work independently and manage a varied workload.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• A proactive, flexible and solutions-focused mindset.

 What's in it for You?

Alongside a competitive salary and car allowance, you'll benefit from:

• 33 days annual leave
• 2 paid volunteering days each year
• Online and high-street retailer discount scheme
• Employee wellbeing and community support groups
• Learning and development opportunities through our personalised LMS platform
• Charity initiatives and team events
• 24/7 GroceryAid support services
• Physical wellbeing benefits, including gym discounts and on-demand exercise hub
• Financial wellbeing tools and resources
• Holiday and travel discounts

About The Compleat Food Group

Our 6,000+ colleagues are at the heart of everything we do. Together, we create delicious food for leading UK retailers and our market-leading brands including Wall's Pastry, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean and Unearthed.

We're proud to foster an inclusive and respectful culture where everyone feels valued, supported and able to thrive. We believe diversity drives better outcomes, stronger teams and a better place to work for all.

Ready to Make a Compleat Impact?

If you're looking for a flexible legal role where your expertise will genuinely influence business decisions, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and help us deliver Food to Feel Good.