Deputy General Counsel - 12 month FTC

Our vision is to give everyone the belief they can make their move. We aim to make moving simpler, by giving everyone the best place to turn to and return to for access to the tools, expertise, trust, and belief to make it happen.

We’re home to the UK’s largest choice of properties and are the go-to destination for millions of people planning their next move, reading the latest industry news, or just browsing what’s on the market. 

We are looking for an exceptional Deputy General Counsel to support and partner with Rightmove’s General Counsel in leading our high-performing Legal, Compliance, Data Protection, and Procurement functions.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced in-house legal leader to play a pivotal role in shaping the legal strategy of one of the UK’s most recognised digital brands.

As Deputy General Counsel, you will be a key strategic advisor, a trusted business partner, and an empowering leader. You’ll take ownership of major workstreams across commercial contracts, data protection, intellectual property, regulatory matters, and corporate governance - ensuring we move fast while managing risk in a balanced and commercial way. You will provide day-to-day leadership of a multi-disciplinary team, deputise for the General Counsel as needed, and drive continuous improvement in how the function operates.

This role is perfect for a senior in-house lawyer who thrives in dynamic digital environments, is comfortable with ambiguity, and enjoys working at the intersection of law, product, technology, and strategy.

What you'll be doing:

Legal leadership & business partnering

• Act as a senior legal advisor to executive stakeholders, providing pragmatic, solutions-oriented guidance on commercial, operational, and strategic matters.
• Deputise for the General Counsel, as required, including attending various committees and subsidiary board meetings.
• Help define and execute the Legal team’s strategic roadmap, aligning legal frameworks and processes with business priorities.

Commercial & product support

• Own the delivery of high-quality, business-focused advice on commercial contracts, product development, technology partnerships, marketing, and customer terms.
• Lead or oversee complex contract negotiations, ensuring balance between legal robustness and commercial agility.
• Partner closely with product, technology, data, marketing, sales, and finance teams to enable innovation safely and efficiently.

Data protection & information governance

• Support and advise on GDPR and privacy compliance across the group, partnering closely with the DPO and Deputy DPO.
• Provide leadership on data-related risks, data sharing, vendor assessments, marketing compliance, and new product data flows.
• Help embed a culture of privacy-by-design and strong information governance.

Intellectual property & brand protection

• Oversee management of Rightmove’s IP strategy, including trademarks, copyrights, and brand protection initiatives.
• Advise on licensing, content use, IP disputes, and protection of proprietary technology and datasets.

Regulatory & compliance

• Support compliance with key regulatory regimes (FCA, CMA, ICO, ASA, DMCCA and others), advising stakeholders and leading operational improvements.
• Work with the Head of Compliance and other compliance colleagues to maintain proportionate, effective first-line compliance frameworks for our regulated subsidiaries.

Team leadership & development

• Lead, mentor, and develop 4 members of the legal team, driving a high-performance and high-trust culture.
• Support team resourcing, external counsel relationships, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Help implement modern legal operations practices - optimising processes, templates, technology, and workflows.

Risk, disputes & corporate activity

• Provide corporate governance support, general risk management advice and overall corporate support.
• Manage or oversee litigation, disputes, and escalated customer or vendor issues.
• Support due diligence and corporate transactions.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks proactively across the organisation.

Who you are:

Experienced in-house legal leader

• Significant experience (15+ PQE) in a senior in-house role (e.g., Deputy GC, Legal Director, Head of Legal) within a large, complex or fast-growth organisation. (Note: PQE is indicative and candidates with the relevant experience will be considered).
• Experience working in complex technology companies.
• Proven track record of advising the most senior stakeholders in a business (Board of Directors, C-Suite, Executives).
• Strong grounding in commercial contracts, data protection, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property - comfortable owning these areas end-to-end.
• Experience advising in relation to AI deployment, creation and compliance.

Commercial, pragmatic & solutions-driven

• Adept at balancing legal risk with commercial outcomes.
• Thrives on partnering with product and commercial teams, enabling innovation without unnecessary friction.
• Able to simplify complex issues and communicate clearly to non-legal audiences.

Leadership & collaboration

• Demonstrable experience leading high-performing legal and compliance teams.
• A team-first mindset, with a passion for developing people and improving how legal operates.
• Comfortable stepping into the General Counsel’s shoes when needed.

Calm under pressure

• Proven track record managing competing priorities in fast-paced environments with high expectations.
• Sound judgment and resilience when dealing with ambiguity, urgent matters, or sensitive issues.

Hands-on & adaptable

• Equally comfortable rolling up sleeves for complex drafting and dealing with routine customer queries or supply contracts as you are advising senior leaders or shaping strategy.
• Curious, collaborative, and proactive - someone who spots risks early and drives solutions.

Life at Rightmove

Despite our growth, we’ve remained a friendly, supportive place to work, with employee #1 still working here!  We’ve done this by placing the Rightmove Hows at the heart of everything we do. These are the essential values that reflect our culture, and include:

• We create value…by delivering results and building trust with partners and consumers.
• We think bigger…by acting with curiosity and setting bold aspirations.
• We care deeply…by being real, having fun, and valuing diversity.
• We move together…by being one team - internally collaborative, externally competitive.
• We make a difference…by focusing on delivering measurable impact.

We believe in careers that open doors and help our team develop by providing an open and inclusive work environment, offering ongoing   training opportunities, and supporting charity fundraising events. And with 89% of Rightmovers saying we’re a great place to work, we’re clearly doing something right! 

What we offer

• Cash plan for dental, optical and physio treatments.
• Private Medical Insurance, Pension and Life Insurance, Employee Assistance Plan.
• 27 days holiday plus two (paid) volunteering days a year to give back, and holiday buy schemes.
• Contributory stakeholder pension.
• Life assurance at 4x your basic salary to a spouse, family member or other nominated person in your life.
• Competitive compensation package.
• Paid leave for maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility.
• Travel Loans, Bike to Work scheme, Rental Deposit Loan.
• Charitable contributions through Payroll Giving and donation matching.
• Access deals and discounts on things like travel, electronics, fashion, gym memberships, cinema discounts and more.
• We offer hybrid working with a minimum of 2 days in the office. For our roles, such as Field or Home-based positions, different working arrangements apply - full details will be shared during the recruitment process.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Rightmove will never discriminate based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage / civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity or sexual orientation. 

At Rightmove, we believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce leads to better innovation, productivity, and overall success. We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees, regardless of their background or identity, to develop and promote a diverse culture that reflects the communities we serve.

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