Senior Commercial Lawyer

Title of Position: Senior Commercial Lawyer 

Salary: €81,552 - €107,064 

Background 

The Governance and Legal Department is responsible for the management of legal matters affecting TII and for oversight of corporate governance.  The department manages a wide remit of legal matters including commercial contracts and procurement, insurance, claims and litigation, property, planning and environmental, statutory interpretation and general legal advice.  The department advises on the obligations and rights conferred on TII by the various Roads Acts and Transport Act.  As well as offering legal services directly to TII, the department manages relationships with external legal advisors as required. 

TII acquires assets, pursuant to its statutory powers, for the purposes of road and light rail projects. This role provides legal input and advice to support the development and implementation of these projects.  

TII Governance and Legal Department employs two full time Commercial Lawyers (Grade 1 and Grade 2) with oversight of legal commercial matters. This competition is to fill a new role for an additional Senior Commercial Lawyer Grade 1. 

This role provides legal input, guidance and advice to support the development of light rail and road projects for TII and the ongoing operation of road and rail infrastructure under the control of TII. The Commercial Lawyer works closely with a range of departments and project teams and is responsible for the drafting, negotiation and conclusion of various commercial agreements required for the purpose of TII’s statutory functions.  In addition, the Commercial Lawyer provides legal support across procurement processes covering works, supplies and services as well as post contract administration. They will advise internal clients in relation to a range of contractual and other legal queries and liaise with external lawyers and insurance advisors where appropriate. Pending the anticipated establishment of a special delivery agency for the construction phase of the project, the role also manages the relevant aspects of the delivery of legal services to the MetroLink project, forming a cohesive link between the project team and the external legal service providers.  Similar support will be required for other planned public transport projects, such as Luas Finglas. 

ROLE, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Legal management role, as required in large scale infrastructure projects, involving developing a suitable understanding of the project as it develops and of regulatory and legal issues that affect it.   
• Advising on proposed and existing commercial agreements put in place for TII corporate requirements, projects and operations including conducting negotiations, where necessary, on behalf of TII, liaising with service providers, insurers and third parties. 
• Provision of advice on exploitation of infrastructure, as business ancillary to TII’s core business, including third party licence agreements, development agreements and leases. 
• Advising across a range of procurement law issues from preparation and review of tender documents through to contract award and post-award legal issues that may arise. 
• Provision of advice and legal support for contract preparation/administration, commercial disputes and claims. 
• Legal support for inquests, mediations, arbitrations, Judicial Reviews and such other matters as may involve TII. 
• Handling contract insurance queries and ensuring contractual insurance compliance. 
• Working with other members of the legal team and external advisors to provide litigation management and general employment law advice. 
• Working with other members of the legal team in providing general in-house legal support and advice as is typically required in a public sector organisation. 
• Undertaking such tasks, activities or other duties as may be required or assigned appropriate to the grade. 
• Provision of general and specialist legal advice on regulatory and compliance issues that arise from time to time.  
• Advising on matters of statutory and/or regulatory interpretation relating to TII’s powers and obligations. 
• Reviewing draft legislation relevant to the interests and functions of TII and co-ordinating, contributing to and drafting submissions on such legislation on behalf of TII. 
• Undertake such tasks, activities or other duties as may be required or assigned as appropriate to the grade. 

All of the divisions within TII have inter-dependent responsibilities and close cooperation and teamwork is required  

Note: The functions and responsibilities assigned to this position are based on the current stated role and may be changed from time to time. The person appointed will be required to demonstrate the flexibility necessary to fulfil other roles and responsibilities at a similar grade within TII and may be assigned to other such roles as business needs arise.  

Education & Experience 

• Candidates must be professionally qualified solicitors or barristers with strong academic qualifications, and excellent commercial awareness.   
• A minimum of 7 years post graduate experience in commercial/contract law is required, either in-house or in private practice, at a level appropriate to the seniority and requirements of the role.  
• Experience in procurement law, regulatory law, insurance, litigation, planning and environmental law, construction law, projects or a related area is desirable. 
• The successful candidate will have exceptional analytical and communication skills together with the ability to work effectively as part of multi-disciplinary teams with colleagues and external advisers from diverse backgrounds and at all levels of the organisation.  
• Highly organised, with excellent attention to detail. 
• Ability to work independently at a high level while also being a team player. 
• Strong interpersonal skills. 
• Strong report writing and presentation skills. 
• Strong legal research, statutory/regulatory interpretation and writing skills required. 
• A good understanding of, or the ability to quickly learn, the public sector working environment and public sector transport policy. 
• Fluency in the English language, both written and oral, with an ability to review and interpret complex information 

Note:  

In order to assure the shortlisting panel that you satisfy these requirements you must explicitly reference how you meet the requirements in your application. Failure to demonstrate these may prevent your application progressing to future shortlisting stages. 

Candidates who come under consideration following the final selection stage will be required to provide documentary evidence of their eligibility, including qualifications and evidence of fluency in the English language. 

Candidates who are unable to show that they hold the required qualifications may be withdrawn from the competition at any stage.  An invitation to interview or any element of the selection process is not acceptance of eligibility. 

To apply for, or to locate further information on, these posts please visit our website: https://www.tii.ie/careers/ 

The closing date for applications is 12pm Friday 14th November at 12pm.   

Transport Infrastructure Ireland is committed to a policy of equal opportunity.