Legal Counsel - 2 year FTC

Northwich, England, United Kingdom

7/8/2025

Summary

Why Dechra?

Thank you for checking out our vacancy, we're delighted you want to learn more about joining Dechra.

A career at Dechra is different. Sure, we're a growing global company with a presence in 27 countries but our purpose is simple - to achieve the sustainable improvement of animal health and welfare globally.

If you want to be part of a team that invests in your future and ensures you have the support to reach your full potential and thrive, please read on.

The Opportunity

Dechra has an exciting opportunity for a Legal Counsel to join its experienced, truly collegiate global legal team. You will play a key role in Dechra's ambitious global transformation journey, designed to shape the future of its business.

You'll be supporting a key strategic initiative to re-contract with suppliers in various jurisdictions to help secure improved commercial and financial terms. You'll work closely with the legal team's business partner for Dechra's Manufacturing and Supply Division (DM&S) as well as the wider legal team (based in the UK, US and Croatia) and colleagues across manufacturing, procurement, finance, sales and beyond. Although this is primarily a global commercial contracts role, the legal team support a huge range of interesting work across all Dechra functions globally so there will be ample opportunity to get stuck into a variety of other matters.

Role Responsibility

You'll be an integral part of the legal team which partners with the business to deliver results. This is a role where you will be empowered to take ownership but will be supported by experienced colleagues where required. Your key responsibility responsibilities for duties will include:

• Liaise with legal colleagues and internal stakeholders both in manufacturing and other areas such as Finance and Tax.
• Drafting and negotiating commercial contracts including:

• contract manufacturing agreements,
• supply chain and procurement contracts,
• warehousing and logistics contracts,
• distribution of goods contracts,
• service contracts, including MSAs, and NDAs.

• Dealing with early-stage disputes.
• Instruct and manage external advisors.
• Assist GC, Assistant GCs and Senior Legal Counsels with the delivery of timely and commercially focused legal support to all parts of the Dechra Group.
• Contribute to the Legal team's internal training and knowledge base. Upkeep of standard legal template contracts and forms to ensure they are fit for purpose and regularly updated to reflect new legislation and best practice.

The Ideal Candidate

Here at Dechra we pride ourselves on being an inclusive employer. We know that individuals' unique background and experience can bring a wealth of variety and expertise to our global workforce. For this role, we're particularly keen to hear from those who have/are:

Essential

• A qualified lawyer with demonstrable in-house work experience
• Right to work and practice law in the United Kingdom (authorised by the SRA)
• Current SRA practicing certificate
• Experience resolving legal issues and providing strategic, well-reasoned, constructive solutions
• Strong legal drafting skills.
• Demonstrable challenging and influencing capability
• Strong negotiation, communication, drafting and interpersonal skills
• Strong commercial law experience, particularly as regards the manufacture of finished goods and the underpinning component supply contracts.
• Ability to understand complicated laws and regulations and translate them into practical, business-orientated legal advice
• Ability to work collaboratively and effective with key stakeholders and business partners
• Experience working as part of a global team
• Strong organisational and time management skills in order to balance working on multiple projects in multiple time zones in parallel
• Self-starter with ability to work independently yet be a team player
• Ability to anticipate risk and be proactive in planning and communicating accordingly including determining who should be informed and engaged
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Desirable

• Animal or human health experience desirable
• Experience of contracts concerning the distribution of goods.
• Experience of logistics contacts.
• Experience of UK and EU competition law
• IP, IT and DP experience desirable
• Use of AI and other legal technologies.
• Project Management experience

Additional Information:

• Occasional global travel may be required with this role.
• This role is based in our Northwich office two days per week on a hybrid basis

What we can offer you:

• 33 days annual (inclusive of Bank Holidays)
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Healthcare
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life Assurance
• 8% Employer Pension Contribution
• Enhanced Family Leave
• Bonus (discretionary)
• Discounted Pet Food

About the Company

If a career at Dechra has piqued your interest, find out more at Dechra Careers.

Dechra is a growing, global specialist in veterinary pharmaceuticals. Our expertise is in the development, manufacture, marketing and sales of high quality products exclusively for veterinarians worldwide.

All applications received are reviewed by our internal talent acquisition team and we will get in touch if your skills and experience match what we're looking for. Should you not hear back from us within 28 days please don't be too disappointed - we may keep your CV on our database for any future vacancies which could be suitable, and we encourage you to keep an eye on our careers site. We value diversity within our global workforce and encourage an inclusive culture. Any questions or queries, please contact us at