Lead - Legal Counsel - Contract

About the role

Lead the Group Contracting Function at Tesco, providing legal support for low‑ and medium‑risk procurement and resale contracts across the organisation. You will work alongside lawyers and paralegals to draft, negotiate and advise on a diverse portfolio of commercial agreements while driving innovation and simplification in legal service delivery.

Key responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate contracts in various areas, including goods for resale and non‑resale.
• Provide specialised legal advice on commercial contracts.
• Implement standard methodologies, simplified engagement processes and new ways of working.
• Collaborate with specialist in‑house lawyers (Data Protection, Competition Law, IP) as required.
• Work closely with business stakeholders to identify concerns, add value and ensure compliance.
• Support innovation and technology initiatives to improve legal service efficiency.
• Engage with and support lawyers across the UK and international Tesco groups.
• Ensure adherence to Tesco Business Code of Conduct and related policies.
• Represent Talent Acquisition in process, compliance and audit forums.
• Drive continuous improvement culture and lead CI projects within the team.

Required profile

• Graduate with at least 5+ years post‑qualification experience at a leading UK or Indian law firm, or experienced paralegal with 1‑2 years PQE.
• Strong knowledge of UK law applicable to commercial contracts.
• Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.
• Proven ability to work independently and cross‑functionally under pressure.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Required skills

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint

What we offer

• Competitive fixed salary plus performance‑based bonus.
• Comprehensive benefits package aligned with Tesco’s Rewards framework.
• Opportunities to work on high‑impact contracts within a leading global retailer.
• Support for professional development and innovation initiatives.