Group Head of Legal

County Kildare | Ireland and UK Remit | Significant career & personal growth potential

The Group is now appointing a Group Head of Legal to become its legal leader and principal adviser. Reporting to the Group CFO and working closely with the CEO, Board, investors and senior leadership team, the successful candidate will have a highly visible and influential role at the heart of the business.

This is not a conventional in-house legal position. It offers the opportunity to help shape a rapidly developing Group, supporting acquisitions, major investments, strategic projects, governance and complex commercial decisions across Ireland and the UK.

It is also a genuinely hands-on appointment. Initially operating as a one-person legal function, the Group Head of Legal must be equally comfortable advising the Board on a major transaction and personally resolving a contract, governance, compliance or operational issue. There is no large team to delegate to, and no task is considered beneath a senior leader.

The successful candidate will:

• Act as a trusted legal and commercial adviser to the CEO, CFO, Board and senior leadership team.
• Support acquisitions, disposals and strategic transactions, from due diligence and execution through to post-deal integration.
• Lead the Group’s corporate governance and company secretarial agenda.
• Advise on commercial contracts, disputes, regulation, compliance, employment matters, risk, data protection, property and major capital projects.
• Build strong relationships across the business so that Legal is involved early and viewed as an enabler of progress, not a barrier to it.
• Manage external advisers and legal expenditure while retaining clear internal ownership of the legal agenda.

We are seeking a qualified solicitor in Ireland and/or UK with strong corporate and commercial experience, meaningful exposure to M&A and the credibility to influence executive leaders, Boards and investors. The successful candidate will be commercially sharp, intellectually rigorous and highly pragmatic. They will bring clarity to ambiguity, understand where the genuine legal red lines sit and help the business make sound decisions at pace. Just as importantly, they will be low-ego, resilient and prepared to get into the detail.

This opportunity will appeal to someone energised by growth, change and a broad mandate, and who wants to play a central role in the next stage of an ambitious Group’s development. It offers a very competitive executive remuneration and benefits package.

To apply, and receive a detailed candidate brief, please submit your CV and a concise supporting statement to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., quoting reference 26039.

Alternatively, to arrange a confidential discussion in advance of applying, please contact Ciaran Sheehan, Managing Partner at Clarendon Executive, on +44 (0)28 9072 5750.