Title:  Commercial Lawyer - NESO

About the role

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals, and we encourage you to join us as Great Britain’s energy system undergoes an ambitious, exciting, and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

The NESO Legal team provides full legal support for all areas of the NESO organisation and currently comprises 12 lawyers and 2 apprentice trainees. We are looking for an experienced commercial lawyer, with a track record of delivering high quality work and the ability to prioritise through excellent organisation, to join our highly respected inhouse legal team. 

You will be supporting on general commercial contractual arrangements, often with a technology focus (including AI), but will also assist on a variety of other corporate, commercial and regulatory matters. The Commercial Lawyer will report to the Senior Lawyer, Commercial and work across the organisation, supporting primarily the Procurement, Digital, Data & Technology and Innovation teams.

This role can be based in Warwick or Wokingham, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home.  For the first 2 months the there is a requirement to be in the Warwick office 2-3 days per week to properly bed in, after that it’s minimum 1-2 days per week in the office on average. We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements.

Key accountabilities

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements with suppliers and other third parties.
• Taking a practical, creative and proactive problem-solving approach to efficiently negotiate and finalize commercial agreements while advising business leaders on acceptable risk aligned with the organisation’s objectives, risk tolerance and compliance requirements.
• Providing practical and business-oriented legal advice to internal stakeholders.
• Advising on dispute resolution strategies and assist in resolving contractual disputes.
• Developing and maintaining standardized templates and contract negotiation playbooks as needed.
• Highlighting priority areas requiring legal support and agreeing with the relevant business partner action plans to address issues.
• Collaborating cross-functionally on legal, regulatory, and corporate matters.
• Supporting the development of more junior team members, including the apprentice trainees.
• Contributing to the development of workflows and processes needed to efficiently scale the legal function.
• Creating and presenting training materials to business teams on a variety of issues, including, legal best practices and current legal/regulatory issues, as required.

About you

We’re forging the path, and we know we can’t do it alone. That’s why we need visionary minds like yours to join us on this transformative journey. In this case, we’re looking for someone who:

• Qualified solicitor in the UK (preferred) or other common law jurisdiction and holding a valid SRA practising certificate.
• Previous inhouse experience (or private practice lawyers who have good secondment experience).
• Strong technical legal skills, with substantial experience drafting and negotiating a broad range of commercial contracts, in particular technology related agreements.
• Experience dealing with the data privacy related matters is highly desirable.
• Public sector procurement contracts experience is highly desirable
• The ability to balance commercial and legal imperatives when dealing with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including drafting and communicating legal issues and solutions in a clear and concise manner.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Able to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborates and works with others across multiple legal and business teams.
• High ethical standards.
• Passionate about energy and the net-zero ambition and who has the drive to support and enable the business in its ambitions.

About what you'll get

A competitive salary between £75,000 - £85,000pa – dependent on experience and capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus of up to 15% of your salary for stretch performance, 28 days annual leave as standard, and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.

You will also have access to a comprehensive benefits package tailored to support your well-being and professional success. From a competitive salary to flexible work arrangements, we promote your work-life balance. Enjoy fit for purpose wellbeing and lifestyle offerings, ongoing skill development aligned to our Purpose and Values and be part of a supportive community that values your individuality and where you can belong.

About us

The creation of National Energy System Operator (NESO) is driven by an urgent need to unify and optimise our approach to energy. A more integrated and coordinated strategy is needed to meet the unprecedented challenges of climate change, ensuring secure energy supply, and keeping costs manageable for consumers.

Join us and empower your potential, energise our team, and be part of something bigger.

Your energy, our future, together.

About the National Energy System Operator (NESO)

In Autumn of 2024, the ESO transitioned to National Energy System Operator, or NESO for short. Previously denoted as the Future System Operator (or FSO), the new National Energy System Operator is the independent body responsible for planning Great Britain’s electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system.  

NESO, including all of its existing roles, are now at the heart of the new National Energy System Operator. As NESO, we will build on our existing roles, capabilities, and ways of working significantly to create an organisation the energy system and its users’ need. Our new capabilities will enable us to look across vectors, including electricity, natural gas and hydrogen, and crucially consider the trade-offs between them.

The organisation is set up as a public corporation with its own Board of independent directors, with complete operational independence from government, the regulator and any and all commercial interest. As was the ESO, NESO will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements and obligated to identify optimal solutions to system operations and planning in the most sustainable, affordable and secure way for all.

The time to deliver is now. As part of our team, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in Great Britain – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

More information

This role closes on 20/01/2026 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

We work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office. 

We're committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve, and a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.

#LI-JW1
#LI-HYBRID