Legal Counsel / Senior Legal Counsel

You might not expect a global chemical manufacturer to be anything but corporate, but we’re different. As an employee-owned business with strong community values, we’re based in a beautiful Grade 2 listed manor house (with an on-site swimming pool!). We’re looking for a full or part-time lawyer to join our friendly legal team and help us keep everything running smoothly in this unique organisation.

As a member of our Legal Team, you will play a critical role in enabling Scott Bader to meet its strategic and operational objectives while ensuring legal and regulatory risks are managed effectively. This is a varied role covering commercial law, compliance, regulatory matters, dispute resolution, and corporate legal support in a global context.

You'll work closely with teams across the global organisation, providing pragmatic legal guidance that supports our values-driven approach. This is an opportunity to not only provide high-quality legal support but to actively shape how legal services are delivered and valued throughout the organisation.

This is a hybrid role, giving you the flexibility to work in a way that suits you. We do, however, believe there’s real value in spending time together in person, so we ask that you join us in the office at least one day a week. It’s a great opportunity to build strong relationships with your new colleagues and experience the unique setting we’re proud of.

Some of your key responsibilities:

• Provide commercially focused legal advice across the global business to support informed and balanced decision-making.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial contracts including supply, service, consultancy, IT/SaaS, distribution, licensing and collaboration agreements.
• Advise on legal compliance across key frameworks including data protection, anti-bribery, competition law, and export controls.
• Collaborate with stakeholders in R&D, commercial and operational teams to protect intellectual property and mitigate legal risks.
• Instruct, manage, and oversee external legal counsel efficiently, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality legal advice
• Contribute to legal department initiatives, knowledge sharing, and the delivery of legal training across the business.

What do I need to be successful in this role?

• A qualified lawyer
• A background in commercial law, ideally with some in-house experience.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to explain legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
• A collaborative, solution-oriented mindset and ability to manage competing priorities.
• We understand that candidates may not meet every requirement listed above. This description outlines the broad scope of the role and the types of matters you may encounter. If you believe this role aligns with your interests and experience — even if you don’t tick every box — we encourage you to reach out for a conversation. A resourceful mindset, strong judgment, and a collaborative, can-do attitude are often just as important as technical expertise.

What’s in it for me?

• A competitive salary alongside being included into our company bonus scheme. Our Group Staff Bonus & Profit Performance Pay bonus scheme reinforces the Scott Bader principle of working together for a common goal and sharing in our successes.
• Enhanced employer contribution whereby Scott Bader will contribute a maximum of 2x your contribution, up to a maximum of 10%.
• Private medical insurance alongside a host of further discounts and employee benefit schemes
• 25 days annual leave entitlement plus Bank Holidays – We also offer the opportunity to purchase an additional 5 day’s annual leave in case you need a couple of extra days.
• We offer all our employees one full day per year to complete volunteering work of your choice which is fully paid. Alongside this, if you are thinking about fundraising for your favourite charity or local community event, we will happily match the funds that you have raised up to a maximum of £1000 in any one year.
• Our Head Office sits within 44 acres of Northamptonshire countryside, nestled within the village of Wollaston. Access to free onsite car parking, electric car charging points, discounted cafeteria and even an onsite swimming pool.

Who are Scott Bader?

Scott Bader is an employee-owned global manufacturer of advanced composites, structural adhesives and functional polymers. Established in 1921, we have a century of expertise in manufacturing high-quality, innovative products for a variety of markets around the world. Scott Bader now employs 800 people across 7 manufacturing sites and 18 offices worldwide.

We are committed to expanding our global reach, with recent ventures including North America, India, Japan and Australia, while continuing to build on our reputation for innovation, outstanding quality and technical expertise.

Scott Bader is different to most other companies. Our business is based on the simple principle of maintaining a balance between our social purpose and business needs. In 1951 we became the first UK company to hold a Common Ownership Certificate when the Bader family handed over their shares to The Scott Bader Commonwealth Limited – in simple terms, this means that Scott Bader colleagues own and are responsible for the success and overall wellbeing of the company.

Diversity & Inclusion

Our aim is to create an environment that is welcoming to all people, and ensures we treat each other and customers with respect. We appreciate different and fresh ways of thinking, encouraging innovation where colleagues feel they can express their views freely, and create a working atmosphere in which everyone is able to deliver a high-quality service.]