Senior Legal Counsel Sky News 12 Month FTC

This role offers a unique opportunity to lead legal strategy at the heart of the newsroom during a major digital transformation, working on high-impact projects like new product launches, technology contracts, and AI integration.

As a team, we pursue the highest standards and demonstrate commitment, integrity and judgement. We exist to add real value by sustainably providing the highest quality business-focussed legal expertise that keeps Sky competitive. Through our work we help to bring better content and innovation to all of our customers, better connecting them to more of what they love. Our vision is to create the Legal team of the future, together – operating at the heart of Sky, famous for adding value.

What you’ll do

• Provide commercial legal support for the delivery of the Sky News 2030 strategy and related strategic projects.
• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including strategic partnerships, technology and digital agreements, content and distribution arrangements, and supplier and services contracts.
• Support new commercial opportunities, products, partnerships and ways of working.
• Provide practical, commercially focused legal advice and help the business identify and manage legal and contractual risks.
• Work closely with editorial, commercial, product, technology, finance and other stakeholders across Sky News
• Collaborate with specialist lawyers and colleagues across the wider Sky Legal team.
• Develop templates, processes and ways of working to improve the efficiency of contracting and delivery.
• Instruct and manage external legal advisers when required, including overseeing their work and budget.
• Contribute to team training, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential criteria:

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister.
• Strong post-qualification experience in commercial law, contract drafting and negotiation.
• Proven experience managing, drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• Experience advising businesses on commercial and contractual risks, with the ability to identify risks and develop pragmatic, commercially focused solutions.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to quickly understand business objectives and complex legal issues.
• Experience working directly with senior business stakeholders and decision-makers, including senior executives.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build effective working relationships across a broad range of stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, manage a varied workload and deliver high-quality legal advice in a fast-paced environment.
• Confident, approachable and collaborative team player with strong organisational skills and an enquiring mind.
• Experience supporting new, evolving or complex business projects.
• Experience within media, broadcasting, content, technology, or another digitally focused business, with an understanding of commercial issues affecting these sectors.
• Demonstrated interest in and awareness of the evolving media, news and digital technology landscape.

Desirable skills and experience:

• Familiarity with copyright and general rights issues.
• Experience in media, broadcasting, news, content, technology or digital businesses.
• Experience with strategic partnerships.
• Experience with technology, digital platform and/or AI-related contracting.
• Experience with content licensing, distribution or acquisition.
• Familiarity with intellectual property and rights issues.
• Experience supporting transformation projects, new products or commercial models.

Benefits and perks

There's one thing people can't stop talking about when it comes to life at Sky: the perks. Here’s a taster:

• Free Sky TV, including Sky Sports and Sky Cinema
• Pension package with up to 9% employer contribution
• Private healthcare with mental health support
• Aviva Digital GP and dental insurance
• Discounts on Sky products, including Sky Mobile, Sky Broadband, Sky Glass and Sky Protect
• Sharesave and Tech schemes
• A range of Sky VIP rewards and experiences

How you’ll work

We've adopted a hybrid working approach to give more flexibility on where and how we work. The hybrid working expectations for this role are 3 days in the office per week.

Your office base

Our Sky Group HQ. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and workspaces, there’s plenty of space to see your big ideas come to life. Here you’ll find 13 subsidised restaurants and cafes. You can re-energise at our gym, catch the latest films at our cinema, get your car washed and even get pampered at our beauty salon.

Our Osterley Campus is just a 10-minute walk from Syon Lane train station, or you can get one of our free shuttle buses from Osterley, Gunnersbury and Ealing Broadway stations. Plus, there’s free onsite parking available for cars, motorbikes and bicycles.

Who we are

We’re Sky, a leading media and entertainment company who connect millions with entertainment, sports, news and arts through innovative products and services. Working with us means you’ll be bringing the joy of a better experience to more people, every day. All so we can do better and deliver better for our customers, colleagues and society.

We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We're a Disability Confident Accredited Employer, and welcome and encourage applications from all candidates. We will look to ensure a fair and consistent experience for all and will make reasonable adjustments to support you where appropriate. Please flag any adjustments you need as early as you can.

Just so you know: if your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a criminal record check. And depending on the role you have applied for and the nature of any convictions you may have, we might have to withdraw the offer.

To be eligible for this role you are required to have the appropriate right to work in the UK. Please be aware Sky does not offer sponsorship for this position.

To find out more about working with us, search #LifeAtSky on social media.