Legal Officer (Contracts)

Due to continued growth, Astroscale have an exciting opportunity for a Legal Officer (contracts) to join our pioneering business at our state-of-the-art facility in Harwell, Oxfordshire.

 

We are a fast-growing company where you can expand on your experience and develop your skills further to enable us to deliver amazing results and impact the future of space sustainability.

As a Legal Officer (Contracts), you will play a pivotal role in ensuring our legal and contractual framework in compliant and in place. Reporting directly to the Head of Legal, Regulatory, and Space Policy, you will be responsible for day-to-day contract management activities, including on specific multi-million-pound space contracts. In this role, you will also support the Procurement Team on existing contracts collaborate with the bid team on proposals for new business and liaise with the Deputy Managing & Operations Director on commercial topics.

While space experience would be advantageous, proven commercial and legal expertise are the key skills we are seeking. 

Responsibilities

As a Legal Officer (Contracts), your key responsibilities will include: 

• Contract Drafting and Negotiation: Act as legal commercial and contracts support for the organisation, specialising in space industry contracts, especially in in-orbit servicing, and legal support to procurement and supply chain. Draft and negotiate complex space industry contracts, including launch services agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), and Letters of Intent (LOIs), ensuring legal compliance and favourable terms for Astroscale. 
• Compliance: Stay updated on developments in international and national laws and regulations, commercial, business, trade law, and space sector regulations of the jurisdictions in which Astroscale operates. Provide legal analysis and prepare notes and briefs regarding these developments. 
• Innovation and Commercialisation: Provide legal support in relation to Astroscale’s development and innovation efforts. Draft and prepare legal instruments and working documents necessary for Astroscale’s activities and programmes, closely interacting with internal decision-makers and supporting working groups. 
• Contractual Impact Assessment: Understand the impact of changes to existing and future contractual terms and conditions. 
• Supply Chain Coordination: Ensure that any contractual requirements within contract changes requiring flow-down to suppliers are communicated and implemented by supply chain colleagues, ensuring seamless collaboration between legal and procurement functions. 
• Contract Review and Approval: Support the contracts representatives in preparing comprehensive contract review approval documentation, ensuring accuracy and completeness. Own the contract management process including facilitating sign-offs to move contracts forward in a timely manner (full cycle contract management). 
• Negotiation Support: Provide vital legal support during contract negotiations with suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders. Use expertise to secure advantageous terms while upholding the company's interests. 
• Request for Proposal (RFP)/Request for Quotation (RFQ) Support: Assist in RFP/RFQ processes and other bids and Invitations to Tender (ITT) by reviewing legal documents, identifying risks, and ensuring legal compliance. Participate in negotiations of government contracts, particularly with UK and European governmental and intergovernmental organisations, especially focusing on the intricacies of space industry regulations. 
• Account Management: Demonstrate strong account management skills, understanding customer needs while safeguarding the company's commercial and regulatory requirements. Strive to strike a balance between customer satisfaction and legal compliance. 

Essential Skills

 

• Law degree (LL.B/LL.M/JD) or equivalent. 
• Proven experience in contract law, preferably in the space industry, or other complex engineering environments. 
• Expertise in legal commercial support, including drafting and negotiating complex contracts. 

• Strong knowledge of procurement, supply chain, and contract management. 
• Experience in supporting RFP/RFQ processes and negotiating government contracts is highly desirable. 
• Currently holds SC Clearance or is eligible to be Security Cleared.  

 

Desirable Skills

• Valid legal qualification 
• Knowledge of other European languages, particularly French is not a requirement but it is deeply appreciated. 

 

Benefits

 

• Competitive base salary
• Opportunity to work with a highly talented, diverse & dynamic international team with cutting edge technology
• Flexible working around core hours in a friendly and supportive environment
• Hybrid working available (dependent on individual role requirements)
• 25 days holiday (increasing yearly up to a maximum of 28 days) + 8 days Bank Holiday
• Life insurance and long-term sick pay
• Private healthcare (taxable benefit)
  
• Relocation allowance
  
• New state of the art office and cleanroom facility
• Regular social events 

 

 

Location

 

Astroscale UK (Harwell), with potential for some travel to Astroscale Japan (Tokyo)

 

 

About Astroscale

 

We aim to deliver cutting edge technologies that will become part of routine commercial space operations by 2030.

 

Astroscale is the first private company with a vision to secure the safe and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations, and the only company dedicated to in-orbit servicing across all orbits. Founded in 2013, we are developing innovative and scalable solutions across the spectrum of in-orbit servicing missions, including End of Life services, Active Debris Removal, In-situ Space Situational Awareness and Life Extension Services, to create sustainable space systems and mitigate against the hazardous build-up of debris in space.

 

Note to recruitment agencies: Astroscale operates a preferred Supplier List, and we do not accept unsolicited agency approaches. Please do not forward candidate CVs or details in response to this advert, or to any Astroscale employee.