Senior Legal Counsel - GSCOP & Commercial

About the role The Senior Legal Counsel – GSCOP & Commercial leads legal support for Tesco’s supplier-facing regulatory compliance, providing both strategic and operational legal advice on commercial activities and transformation projects that impact suppliers.This role is a key part of Tesco’s risk management framework, ensuring supplier relationships are managed fairly, transparently and in line with legal and regulatory requirements, while enabling delivery of key commercial initiatives.In this role, you will act in line with our Business Code of Conduct, always demonstrating integrity and due diligence, alongside specific risk responsibilities.As a centre of expertise, you will take ownership of one of Tesco’s key compliance risks – the Grocery Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP). You will lead legal support for supplier-facing regulatory compliance and provide strategic and practical advice on a wide range of commercial activities. What is in it for you We’re all about the little helps. That’s why we make sure our Tesco colleague benefits package takes care of you – both in and out of work. Click Here to find out more!

• Annual bonus scheme of up to 20% of base salary.
• Holiday starting at 25 days plus a personal day (plus Bank holidays).
• Private medical insurance.
• 26 weeks maternity and adoption leave (12 months service required at the qualifying date) at full pay, followed by 13 weeks of Statutory Maternity Pay or Statutory Adoption Pay, we also offer 6 weeks fully paid paternity leave.
• Free 24/7 virtual GP service, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for you and your family, free access to a range of experts to support your mental wellbeing.
• This information is a shortened summary, refer to our policies for full details.

You will be responsible for

• Act as the legal lead for supplier regulatory compliance across the UK business, providing expert advice on complex and high-risk issues
• Interpret and apply regulatory requirements across a broad range of commercial activities
• Own and deliver regulatory reporting requirements, including drafting submissions, coordinating cross-functional input and shaping the legal narrative
• Lead preparation for regulatory engagement, including briefing senior stakeholders
• Partner with the business to identify legal risks early and shape compliant, practical solutions that support strategic priorities
• Advise on supplier complaints, disputes and escalations, helping to reach fair and legally robust outcomes
• Design and deliver training programmes to ensure colleagues understand their obligations when working with suppliers
• Produce clear, practical guidance to embed compliance into day-to-day commercial decision-making
• Identify emerging risks and evolving training needs across the business
• Prepare papers and briefings for senior stakeholders, including executive and governance forums, on supplier compliance risks and activity
• Support key Tesco finance initiatives and lead on legal compliance with Tesco’s Commercial Income Policy

You will need

• To be a proactive self-starter, comfortable working autonomously and leading on matters
• To be a qualified lawyer with experience in regulatory compliance
• Strong general commercial experience, ideally gained in-house (or via secondment)
• The ability to simplify complex issues, see the bigger picture and work efficiently under pressure within a varied and fast-paced workload
• A robust and effective style, with the confidence to operate in a collaborative environment that values constructive challenge and open debate
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms and positively influence stakeholders
• A commercial and pragmatic approach, with the ability to engage effectively across all levels of the business
• An excellent academic background, with experience gained at a top-tier law firm or in-house
• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a collegial team environment
• Comfort managing a broad, and at times unpredictable, workload

About us You might know us as a supermarket, technology company or even for our award-winning mobile network. Truth is, we’re all of those things, and much more. Our colleagues work with one goal in mind, helping to make every day a little better for our customers, colleagues and communities all over the world. No two customers are the same, neither are our colleagues. At Tesco, we champion a balance that lets you thrive both in and out of work. Spend 60% of your week collaborating with colleagues at our office locations or local sites and the rest remotely. Whether you're just kicking off your career, juggling passions, or navigating big life events, we're here to support you. We always welcome a conversation about flexible working, so talk to us throughout your application about how we can support. We're proud to be an accredited Disability Confident Leader, where everyone’s welcome. That’s why we commit to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you need support with your application, click here for more information. And if you're interested in joining our team but don't tick every box, don't let that hold you back from applying.