Job profile section

Ref No:                                           OGA 223
Job title:                                          Legal Adviser
Directorate:                                     Strategy
Location:                                         Post 1: Aberdeen, Post 2: London
Number of posts:                            2
Grade:                                            Grade 7
Salary:                                            £66,971 per annum
Allowances:                                                 
Travel to other locations with UK:  Occasional travel within the UK
Appointment Type:                          Permanent
Appointment Term:                          Full time, Part time, Jobshare
Level of Security clearance:            Basic
Medical required:                             No

Unless otherwise stated consideration will be given to requests to work on a part time or job share basis.  Flexible working hours can also be considered.

Closing date for applications:           HR to add

Brief overview of role

We are looking to appoint 2 x Legal Advisers in the OGA’s Legal and Governance Team – one based in Aberdeen and one in London.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an experienced and established team guiding the OGA at a time of transition and further change for the oil and gas industry. The OGA is working with government and industry on the vital role that the industry plays in supporting and assisting the UK energy transition.

The OGA is responsible for, among other things, the licensing and consenting regime for both the UK’s offshore, and England’s onshore, petroleum activity along with licensing and permitting carbon storage operations.

The OGA's in­-house Legal Team has full responsibility and accountability for the OGA’s legal advice and provides such advice and support to the OGA on all aspects of its activities including litigation.

The Team comprises the General Counsel and senior lawyers - and your role will be to support them – and the OGA’s head of governance.

There is a significant public and commercial law dimension to the role.

When normal office working resumes, the OGA’s plan for hybrid working includes an expectation for staff to spend broadly 50% of their time in the office as a minimum.

Detailed job description and key responsibilities

The Legal Adviser must be qualified to practise as a solicitor or advocate/barrister in Scotland and/or England & Wales.

You will work closely with the senior lawyers in particular and with the operational, regulatory and policy teams in the OGA, advising on licensing and compliance matters and assisting in the development and implementation of policy projects, guidelines and operational procedures. 

The OGA is looking in particular for someone with oil and gas law experience for the role in Aberdeen, and public law experience, preferably in a regulatory context, for the role in London – most likely having at least 2 to 5 years Post Qualified Experience. 

You will report directly to the General Counsel, with direct supervision by senior lawyers.

You will possess excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills with an ability to provide clear, constructive advice on complex legal issues, and the confidence and initiative to find workable solutions to policy and operational challenges.

In addition, you may have experience in one or more of the following areas: 

• The industry's operation of joint ventures and general commercial agreements.
• ­Civil law procedure and appeals process. (The OGA has power to impose sanctions, including financial penalties and the power to determine licences, with a right for companies to appeal to the First Tier Tribunal.)

When normal office working resumes, the OGA’s plan for hybrid working includes an expectation for staff to spend broadly 40% of their time in the office.

Person specification

Competence 1:  Leading and Communicating

• Excellent drafting and communication skills, with the ability to work constructively with legal, policy and technical colleagues;
• Excellent interpersonal skills together with the ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams.

Competence 2: Delivering at Pace

• Flexibility and resilience to deal with heavy and competing pressures and the ability to work with colleagues who are themselves often under pressure;
• Able to provide quick, confident and authoritative legal advice to colleagues within the OGA.

Competence 3: Seeing the Bigger Picture

• Be sensitive to the broader political and commercial aspects of the oil and gas regulatory regime;
• The ability to think strategically about how legal services can support the priorities of the OGA.             

Competence 4: Making Effective Decisions

• Excellent analytical and handling skills;
• Strong attention to detail.   

Specialist Skills, Qualifications, Experience, Licenses, Memberships or Language

           Essential:

• The post­holder must be a qualified solicitor or advocate/barrister (Scotland and/or England & Wales) with strong legal.
• Post 1: For the role in Aberdeen, a good knowledge of upstream oil and gas law.
• Post 2: For the role in London, a good knowledge of public law (including ECHR law), preferably in a regulatory context.
• Able to provide and communicate authoritative, high quality advice, often within very tight timescales.
• Ability to look at problems with a pragmatic and commercial, as well as a legally robust, perspective.
  
  Desirable: 
   
• A demonstrable interest and understanding of oil and gas, regulatory and/or competition matters.
• Post-qualification work experience as a solicitor or barrister/advocate.
• Investigatory and/or litigation experience
• Self-motivation and demonstrable interest in the work of the OGA.