Legal Officer

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

As Legal Officer, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring our legal and contractual framework is compliant and in place. Reporting directly to the Head of Legal, Regulatory Affairs, and Space Policy, you will provide legal support to procurement, vendor management, and supply chain, including subcontractors’ negotiations for Astroscale’s projects and missions, and exciting procurement activities for the fulfilment of Astroscale’s programmes, such as launch services agreements. You will also support with the implementation of Astroscale’s Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) and manage existing and future contracts, and terms and conditions. Finally, you will work with the Head of department and Legal team and drafting, updating, and maintaining Astroscale’s terms and conditions of purchase and sale.

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

Closing date for applications will be Wednesday 15th January, you may be contacted prior to this date with feedback or application updates. 

Responsibilities

As a Legal Officer, your key responsibilities will include: 

• Act as legal support for Astroscale to provide timely support of day-to-day tasks including contract drafting, reviews and negotiations; You will draft and negotiate with suppliers, vendors, and other stakeholders, 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. 
• 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. Establishment of contractual framework and processes prior to ITTs (drafting of teaming agreements/MOUs and formal establishment of consortia);
• Thorough template impact assessment of all current procurement templates and improvement/creation of new ones; Understand the impact of, and implement, changes to existing and future contractual terms and conditions. 
• Supply Chain Coordination: Support internal and external procurement activities, and ensure that any contractual changes are communicated to, flowed-down, and implemented by supply chain colleagues, creating 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). 
• 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.
• Help to supervise, and coordinate, external legal counsel, as needed.

Essential Skills

• Law degree (LL.B/LL.M/JD) or equivalent. 
• Proven experience in contract law (England and Wales), preferably in the space industry, or other complex engineering environments.
• A strong knowledge of intellectual property (IP) law, Intellectual Property Rights licensing, particularly under English law, and an understanding of IP laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where Astroscale operates
• Experience with Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems.
• Proactiveness and leadership skills to manage the implementation of new projects on behalf of the legal team.
• 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

• Experience and knowledge of export control rules and regulations
• Knowledge of Government contracts terms and conditions (including ESA GCC).

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
• Optional 9/75 fortnight
• 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.