Want to do the best work of your life? With 24 million customers in 6 countries, make your mark at Europe’s leading media and entertainment brand. A workplace where you can proudly be yourself; our people make Sky a truly exciting and inclusive place to work.

This Head Counsel (HC) role exists to act as a senior legal partner to members of Sky’s leadership team and relevant commercial teams focussing on distribution of channels, content services and apps on the various Sky platforms, services and distribution of Sky channels and services including NOW on third party platforms and devices. The role will ensure that business strategies are supported by delivery of high quality business focussed legal advice and services that land brilliantly in the business. The HC is also a member of the extended Legal leadership team (together with the Directors of Legal) and is expected to be a role model leader for the Department. The HC is the effective and accepted delegate for his/her Director of Legal on the majority of issues in own business area.

What you’ll do:

This role is for Head Counsel with leadership responsibilities in the Distribution & Partnerships (D&P) Legal Team, under direction from the Director of Distribution & Partnerships, which supports the Sky business areas on commercial contracting for:

carriage of third party content services (for example linear, VOD and app services) on the various Sky platforms including Sky Q, Sky Go and Now;

distribution of Sky services on third party platforms and devices including wholesale agreements for Sky linear and non linear services and device agreements for distribution of NOW;

carriage of other audio visual content for the Sky platforms;

support for content related product launches.

You will work closely with legal and business teams across Sky UK, the Sky Group and Comcast/NBCU in relation to commercial contracts ensuring alignment of approach and delivery in contracting with common suppliers and third parties. A collaborative approach is therefore essential. Experience of working across European markets is therefore desirable.

Partner with local leaders, delivering commercial and result driven legal advice and building effective relationships with colleagues.

Lead, manage, develop, motivate, inspire and enable their own sub-team (including yourself) and the wider department to be a high performing team

Guardianship – effectively identify, assess and communicate risk, and advise their own business area in its assessment and management of those risks and to enable others in the team to do the same

Be the Legal Expert within your specialist team with the ability to be flexible and apply knowledge to broader legal and business topics and to support business strategies

Own it – understand the bigger picture and the commercial rationale of deals. Challenge yourself and your team in new areas to support business innovation and growth. Take responsibility in a shared pathway to closure of a deal.

Optimistic – engage in matters with a positive and ‘can-do’ outlook, playing a proactive role in finding a solution or looking for the opportunity. You’ll priortise wellbeing to better cope with challenges and be able to adapt to constant change in a dynamic environment

Be open-minded – Take a more flexible approach to matters, understand different viewpoints with our partners’ challenges and find creative solutions to achieve desired outcomes

What you’ll bring:

Qualified UK lawyer or lawyer from a jurisdiction based on UK law.

The role will require a strong commercial contract lawyer with experience in carriage and distribution of content and content services.

In-depth copyright experience

Previous experience leading, managing and developing others

Previous experience in effective management of multiple senior stakeholders

Strong leadership skills and offers a wide variety of powerful commercial work and excellent opportunities for development and growth.

An ability to think strategically and creatively and advise Executive-level and senior stakeholders are essential.

Experience of working across European markets is desirable.

Team Overview

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!

The Rewards:

There’s a reason people can’t stop talking about #LifeAtSky. Our great range of rewards really are something special, here are just a few:

Sky Q, for the TV you love all in one place

A generous pension package

Private healthcare

Discounted mobile and broadband

Access a wide range of exclusive Sky VIP rewards and experiences

Where you’ll work:

Our Osterley Campus is a 10-minute walk from Syon Lane train station. Or you can hop on one of our free shuttle buses that run to and from Osterley, Gunnersbury, Ealing Broadway and South Ealing tube stations. There’s also plenty of bike shelters and showers.

On campus, you’ll find 13 subsidised restaurants, cafes, and a Waitrose. You can keep in shape at our subsidised gym, catch the latest shows and movies at our cinema, get your car washed and even get pampered at our beauty salon.

Inclusion:

We take pride in our approach to diversity and inclusion: we’ve been recognised by The Times and Stonewall for this, and we’ve committed £30million to support the fight against racial injustice. We’ve also set ambitious targets for increasing ethnic diversity and representation throughout our organisation.

At Sky we don’t just look at your CV. We’re more focused on who you are and your potential. We also know that everyone has a life outside work, so we’re happy to discuss flexible working!

And we’ll do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, speak to our recruitment team who will be happy to support you.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Why wait?

Apply now to build an amazing career and be part of a brilliant team. We can’t wait to hear from you.

To find out more about working with us, search #LifeAtSky on social media. A job you love to talk about.

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.