Head of Legal Operations

About the role

Reporting into the Legal Director, you will provide strong leadership in overseeing, supporting and developing a team of UK based lawyers currently consisting of: 2 senior legal counsels, 1 legal counsel and 1 paralegal. This team oversees all aspects of Believ's EV charge point network including securing property / land interests, planning, design & construction and operations & maintenance. You will be instrumental in shaping Believ's legal, regulatory and compliance function. Overseeing Network Operations Manage a busy pipeline of Public Sector and Private Sector transactions in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, ensuring these are appropriately resourced. Partnering with key internal stakeholders to ensure clear visibility of the pipeline. Manage all aspects of property acquisition including title due diligence, putting in place Concession Contracts, Framework Agreements, Agreements for Lease, Leases, Licences etc, attending to SDLT and Land Registry registration. Manage all supply side agreements relating to the operation of the EV charge point network including: IT software & hardware purchasing, services and outsourcing, construction contracts, energy purchasing / supply agreements. In the absence of an in-house procurement function, working with the Business to define requirements, pricing mechanisms, service levels and remedies for supplier non-performance. Maintain your own contract workload which may consist of: introducer / commission agreements, network roaming agreements and the property and supply side agreements mentioned above. Partner with the tenders & Sales teams on RFIs, RFPs and advise on public procurement challenges and issues. Develop initiatives to reduce contract negotiation times with local authorities and private landlords. Proactively identify, manage and mitigate risks whilst enabling the Business to move forward on its objectives, including ensuring contract termination / renewals and variations are progressed in a timely manner. Prepare and have oversight of legal budgets, monitoring Legal spend and conducting regular reviews of external law firms and conduct RFPs for Legal Services as required. Ensure templates and contract negotiation playbooks are continually revised and updated. Drive the adoption and optimisation of legal technology including AI and contract management systems. Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders, provide regular training and encourage business partnering between Legal and Business teams. Leading on General Compliance This is an evolving role with the aim of embedding a culture of legal engagement and compliance across the Business. This role will initially entail: Manage and maintain Believ's ISO certifications including ISO audit preparation, applications for new ISOs and liaising with external auditors and internal stakeholders as necessary. Manage and maintain Believ's B-Corp certification. Oversee Believ's insurance requirements to ensure all areas of Business operations are adequately covered. Support Business areas on contract lifecycle management, tracking contractual obligations and advising on strategy and mitigations against known-breaches. Oversee Believ's compliance with key legislation - e.g. Public Charge Point Regulations reporting obligations. Monitor regulatory developments and industry trends being mindful of evolving product offerings in the EV space (e.g. (e.g. solar power canopies, vehicle to grid, battery storage). Draft and revise corporate policies such as Modern Slavery, Anti-bribery, Business Continuity, Privacy etc. Develop and implement legal procedures and policies to ensure adherence to best practice and compliance with law. Attend industry working groups and co-ordinate Believ's response to public consultations. Other Work closely with the Legal Director to help turn