SeniorLegal Counselroles
Reports to:Legal Lead
Directorate:Finance, Governance & Assurance
Grade: P3
Location: Office-based withhigh flexibility (2 days per week in the office)
Salary: £75,000 - £88,000 per annum
Hours:Full-time (35 hours per week)
Application method: Please complete the anonymous application form, making sure all of your experience is included.
Application Deadline: 9thAugust 2026: 23:59 hours
Visa sponsorship:You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is notable tooffer visa sponsorship.
We’re Transforming Legal at Cancer Research UK
Join us to get hands-on and take ownership of building a modern, strategic, and technology-enabled team that partners closely with the organisation, using data, AI, and innovative ways of working to deliver user-centric legal services that maximise our impact in beating cancer for everyone.We’relooking for builders, pathfinders, and changemakers who:
Can act as a strategic partner, embedding legal into strategy and decision-making across the charity
Thrive in complexity and challenge the status quo, whilst delivering pragmatictimelylegal strategies and solutions to enable our work
Are bold in their approach to legal service delivery and design and curious about how to best deploy legal tech and gen AI and AI capabilities for legal work
Care deeply about purpose andimpactYou’llbe joining a legal team with dedicated legal operations capabilities leading the organisation with our bold use of gen AI and AI for legal processes and legal work and enabling legal work via data-driven service insights.
You will be doing more than just legal delivery, you will empower teams across the organisation, gaining broad exposure to the internal operations of the UK’s leading cancer charity, deliver real impact, and get involved in shaping the future of Legal at CRUK.
What will be some of the main responsibilities?
Provide high-quality,pragmaticand commercially focused legal advice on complex and strategically important matters, acting as a trusted adviser and strategic business partner who enables and empowers stakeholders to achieve theirobjectiveswhile effectively managing risk.
Play an active role in shaping the future of Legal at CRUK, contributing ideas, energy and hands-on support to strategic initiatives, service redesign, operationalimprovementsand the development of a modern, user-centric Legal function.
Champion innovation and smarter ways of working, embracing legal technology, data, process improvement and generative AI to enhance legal service delivery, improve client experience and maximise team effectiveness.
Act as a builder, problem-solver and changemaker, bringing a dynamic and adaptable mindset to help develop a legal service that is innovative, efficient, technology-enabled and aligned with CRUK's mission and ambitions.
Bring deepexpertisein relevant legalspecialisms, acting as a recognised subject matter expert whilst helping to build capability, confidence and legal understanding across the organisation and the Legal team.
Develop innovative,practicaland risk-based solutions to complex challenges, combining excellent legal judgement with commercial awareness,curiosityand a focus on achieving positive outcomes for clients.
Manage a diverse and complex portfolio of legal matters independently,maintaininghigh standardsof legal excellence while operating with agility,paceand a strong client-service mindset.
Act as a collaborative team playerwithin the function, sharingexpertise, coaching colleagues,providingtechnical guidance and contributing to a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Work closely with the Legal Lead to support the effective delivery of legal services, helping toidentifyrisks, resourcing pressures, opportunities for improvement andnew approachesthat strengthen how Legal supports the organisation.
What skills are we looking for?
Significant experienceoperatingas a Senior Legal Counsel or equivalent within afast-pacedor complexlegal services environmentwhich could include private practice, commercial or charity experience
A dynamic and agile approach, with the confidence to navigate complexity, manage competing priorities and enable decision-making.
Stronglegal negotiationand advisory experience across a broad range of complex mattersincluding a goodunderstandingof commercial contracting.
The ability to act as a trusted business partner, building strong stakeholder relationships and providing pragmatic, solutions-focused advice.
Experience driving improvements in legal service delivery, processes, ways of working or legal operations.
A genuine interest in innovation, legal technology andnew approachesthat enhance client experience and team effectiveness.
A commitment to delivering an empowered, user-centric legal service that balances legal risk with organisationalobjectives
What will I gain?
Each and everyone of our employees contributes to our progress and is supporting our work to beat cancer. We thinkthat’simpressive.
In return, we make sure you are supported by a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools,policiesand processes to enable you to do your job well.
Our benefits package includes a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on anything from travel to technology, gym membership, and much more.
Wedon’tforget people have lives outside of work too and so we actively encourage a flexible working culture.
Our work – from fundingcutting-edgeresearch to developing public policy – will change the world.It’sexciting to be part of our team.
How do I apply?
Weoperatean anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality,diversityand inclusion. CVs arerequiredfor all applications; but wewon’tbe able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly,fairlyand objectively.
For more information on this career opportunity please visit our websiteor contact us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk
For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, Xand YouTube
Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.
We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Please contact recruitment@cancer.org.uk or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.
Cancer Research UK is the world's leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research, influence and information. Nearly one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime, but we’re finding new ways to outsmart it, so that more people can live longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer.
We carry out scientific research to help prevent, diagnose and treat cancer and our groundbreaking work, funded almost entirely by the general public, will ensure that millions more people survive.
Together we are beating cancer.
Registered charity No. 1089464.
