Head of Legal Job at Virgin Atlantic (Crawley)

Job Description

This is a pivotal leadership role at Virgin Atlantic, sitting at the heart of how we operate, grow and protect our future. As Head of Legal, you will shape a legal strategy that enables bold commercial ambition while safeguarding our licence to operate in a complex, global and highly regulated industry. This role goes beyond managing risk. You will proactively influence major commercial, operational and corporate decisions, ensuring we move at pace with clarity and confidence. You’ll bring a blend of private practice rigour and/or in-house commercial judgement, using your experience to guide high-impact decisions across the business. You will design and lead a modern, high-performing legal operating model that supports transformation, resilience and disciplined growth. Working closely with the Senior Leadership Group, you will help create value while ensuring we operate with integrity, credibility and sound judgement.

Job Responsibility

Act as a strategic partner to the Senior Leadership Group, influencing key commercial, operational and corporate decisions
Lead legal input on high-value commercial agreements, partnerships, alliances and supplier negotiations
Advise on and support corporate activity including financing, restructuring and strategic initiatives
Own and evolve the Group’s legal risk framework, ensuring clear governance, escalation and decision-making discipline
Design and embed a scalable legal operating model aligned to business priorities
Optimise use of external counsel, driving quality, efficiency and cost control
Introduce improvements across legal processes, systems and ways of working, including use of technology and data
Lead, structure and develop the legal team, ensuring clear accountability and succession planning
Oversee litigation, disputes, investigations and regulatory engagement
Act as Legal lead in high-profile or time-critical situations, including data protection escalation where required

Requirements

Qualified solicitor or barrister with ~10+ years PQE
Career history showing progression into senior leadership roles within legal functions
Background including time spent in private practice (ideally at a top tier firm) combined with in-house experience in a commercial organisation, or a proven Private Practice Lawyer with commercial understanding and breadth of experience
Demonstrable experience working within a regulated or complex industry (e.g. aviation, transport, infrastructure, financial services or similar)
Track record of leading and delivering on complex commercial matters
Experience of operating at senior stakeholder level, with clear examples of influencing or advising executive or board-level decision making
Evidence of leading, structuring and developing legal teams, including line management, organisational design or capability building
Demonstrated ownership of end-to-end legal delivery
Broad legal capability across commercial, regulatory and/or corporate matters
Experience managing external counsel, including panel selection, performance management and cost control

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Head of Legal

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