This is a specific purpose contract role.They are Uisce Éireann. Every day, they are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland’s national regulated water utility, their vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports. The purpose at Uisce Éireann is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. That means they are proud to take on the responsibility of protecting the water supply and passing on a safe and secure water system to a rapidly growing population and empowering Ireland’s social and economic growth. They are passionate about empowering their people, enabling them to make a positive impact on communities across Ireland. They are guided by a shared vision and purpose, grounded in values that define who they are and shape how they work, where they deliver for customers and communities, they work better together, they do the right thing, they aim high, and they keep each other safe. Their behaviours define how they interact, communicate, and succeed together. These values and behaviours apply to each one of them, across every role, location, and level. Their goal is to attract and develop skilled and talented people from diverse backgrounds, who bring a dynamic range of expertise and insights to their work. With a strong, values-driven workforce, they ensure Uisce Éireann can continue advancing Ireland’s water services and meeting the needs of the communities they serve for generations to come.The RoleThe Legal function provides the organisation with the necessary legal expertise and support required by the business to meet its day-to-day business needs and legal and regulatory obligations. This includes advising the business in specialised matters, managing litigation matters, reviewing and providing input to legal documentation including policies and contracts, and advising on regulatory matters. The Legal Asset & Operations Team provide in-house legal advice primarily to the asset and operational functions of the business, including in particular Asset Management, Infrastructure Delivery, Asset & Customer Operations, as well as advising on dispute resolution. The team provides a range of specialist legal advice in areas including Operations, Planning & Environmental, Property, Projects, and Connections & Developer Services. The team also advises on dispute avoidance and dispute resolution across the company including litigation, arbitration, mediation, conciliation or any other alternative dispute resolution. They collaborate with the Legal Commercial and Supply Chain team to ensure knowledge sharing and excellence in the delivery of full legal services across Uisce Éireann. Reporting to the Asset & Operations Legal Senior Manager, the Project Solicitor will work closely with the Operations and the Infrastructure Delivery areas as well as the Uisce Éireann Legal team to ensure that UE can meet customer needs and deliver its capital portfolio. The role holder will assist both Operations and Infrastructure Delivery with the legal expertise and support required by the business to deliver its objectives.Main Duties and Responsibilities:Support the Asset & Operations Legal Senior Manager and the Chief Legal Officer in providing in-house legal advice to the Infrastructure Delivery and Asset Operations area for regulatory, planning and environmental matters as well as miscellaneous operations and delivery related queries.Assist with the drafting, review and update of stakeholder communications, regulatory submissions and planning applications.Provide day to day support to the Legal area and the business, manage and support third party specialists and teams, including external lawyers, to deliver required business outcomes and ensure legal deliverables are met in a timely, commercial and accurate manner.Review and negotiate miscellaneous contracts, agreements and legal documents related to Uisce Éireann’s projects, and ensure that they comply with applicable laws, regulations and company policies.Attend project meetings, and liaise with external advisers, the business, and the members of the Chief Legal Office to ensure all legal risks are identified and notified to client.Advise, in conjunction with the Planning and Environmental Solicitor, the business on planning and environmental matters, with a particular focus on water services legislation and challenge where appropriate.Promote legal awareness and communicate to the business when legal input should be sought.Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external counsel to resolve legal disputes related to projects, contracts and regulatory matters.Identify and develop opportunities and strategies to mitigate potential legal risks in relation to Operations and Infrastructure Delivery strategies and policies.Collaborate with peers in managing a programme to develop legal awareness across the Operations and Infrastructure Delivery areas.Collaborate with various internal departments and external stakeholders to ensure that projects and contracts are legally sound, have minimal risks and are aligned with Uisce Éireann’s strategic objectives.Obtain necessary licenses, permits and approvals for projects and operations, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.Oversee the lifecycle of project agreements, including renewal termination and amendments.Engage with government agencies, contractors, suppliers and other parties to represent Uisce Éireann’s legal interests in projects.Lead and oversee legal support for corporate governance matters related to projects.Play a proactive role in providing legal advice which is commercially focused supported by industry knowledge and expertise.Manage and update the client of relevant legislative changes and case-law affecting the conduct of the company’s business.Regular interface with the client to ensure that Operations and Infrastructure Delivery legal needs are being met.Input into and maintain registers as required, for example the litigation register, contracts register, risk register.Monitor planning and environmental legislative changes and communicate across the business where required.Ensure that Personal Development is maintained, and that professional knowledge remains current, by participating in appropriate training / courses / seminars, as agreed with the Environment and Planning Solicitor.Prepare legal documentation for board meetings and corporate decision-making.Work closely with the other Uisce Éireann Legal teams to ensure an aligned approach on related matters.General Duties and Responsibilities:Collaborate with key internal stakeholders across the UÉ business.Model the delivery of health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards.Support the delivery of the Uisce Éireann Transformation Programme, driving results required within the Directorate and supporting organisation-wide objectives.Provide visible leadership for your team, coaching and developing them to achieve their full potential and deliver business objectives, promoting collaboration and highlighting the behaviours that are expected from everyone in the team.Other duties as required Knowledge, Skills and Experience:Qualified Solicitor with a minimum of 7 years’ post qualification or equivalent experience.Good knowledge of relevant planning and environmental law, to include knowledge of AA and EIA requirements.A minimum of 7 years’ experience in the water, utilities or similar industries is desirable.Demonstrated leadership ability, proactive development, motivation and engagement of staff.Experience managing a large team, with strong people, change management and conflict resolution skills.Experience of developing and maintaining effective strategic partnerships with key stakeholders.Proven track record with dealing with complex issues, proactively and in a timely fashion along with the ability to communicate complex information to others.Experience of supporting policies, systems and controls and driving the implementation of progressive policies.Challenge and influence poor customer service and practice and oversee any change management initiatives.You will have a proven track record in leadership, change & transformation experience ideally in a similar utility, regulated industry or multi stakeholder environment.Proven track record in promoting and embracing differences of opinion and challenging poor practice.Demonstrated experience influencing an environment of open, honest communication while upholding high ethical standards.Able to work to deadlines and adapt to changing conditions and ambiguity generating effective and pragmatic solutions to new situations and problems as they are presented.Proven track record in leading continuous improvement initiatives in teams. Strong background in team motivation, and performance enhancement.Proven track record in setting safety and wellbeing goals and challenging any unsafe practices.*Please be advised that if successful you will be placed on the salary range based on your skills and experience. Please note the Market reference point (midpoint) of the range is generally the upper end of the offer where someone is deemed to be fully competent to take on the duties of the role and leaves room for the employee to progress through the pay range as their experience develops further.Uisce Éireann is an equal opportunities employer. They are committed to providing a diverse and inclusive place of work and have a robust strategy and framework called ibelong to enable this. They are an equal opportunity employer and through their recruitment process they welcome and encourage applications from interested and suitably qualified individuals regardless of gender, age, racial or ethnic origin, membership of the traveller community, religion or beliefs, family or civil status, sexual orientation/gender identity or disability.Apply NowAn email has been sent to the Employer and to your registered email address.Step 1Please Login if you wish to apply for this vacancy.Add your email address and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
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