Legal & Compliance Officer

Provide essential legal and compliance support as our first in-house Legal & Compliance Officer, ensuring Gosen operates with integrity, manages risk appropriately, and maintains the high standards that underpin our reputation and partnerships.As Gosen grows rapidly, we're managing increasingly complex legal relationships with local authorities, overseeing hundreds of tenancy agreements, navigating planning and property regulations, and ensuring compliance across multiple sites and jurisdictions. What we need is someone who can bring order to this complexity - providing pragmatic legal guidance, building robust compliance systems, and empowering our operational teams to work confidently within appropriate boundaries.This isn't a traditional in-house legal role focused on contract review and litigation support. It's a strategic position for someone who wants to be a true business partner - anticipating legal and regulatory challenges before they arise, providing commercial advice that balances risk with opportunity, and building the compliance infrastructure that will support sustainable growth.We're looking for a qualified legal professional who combines technical expertise with commercial pragmatism. Someone who understands that perfect legal protection isn't always possible or desirable, who can communicate complex legal concepts in plain English to non-lawyers, and who genuinely enjoys problem-solving rather than simply identifying problems.Our culture values integrity above all else. We do the right thing even when it's harder, we're transparent with partners and communities, and we take our obligations seriously. We need someone who shares these values and understands that legal and compliance functions exist to enable good work, not obstruct it.This role offers significant variety, genuine strategic influence, and the opportunity to build legal and compliance functions from the ground up. If you're tired of narrow legal roles, energized by the prospect of supporting mission-driven work, and ready to have impact beyond document review, this opportunity offers real depth and meaning.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day legal advice and support across all business functions including operations, business development, HR, and finance
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts including management agreements, leases, supplier contracts, and employment agreements
• Support business development team in structuring partnership deals with local authorities that balance legal protection with commercial objectives
• Develop and maintain suite of template agreements, policies, and procedures ensuring legal compliance and operational efficiency
• Oversee tenancy agreement processes ensuring compliance with landlord-tenant law and fair housing requirements
• Build and implement compliance management system covering health and safety, data protection, employment law, and sector-specific regulations
• Conduct regular compliance audits and risk assessments across operational portfolio
• Manage external legal counsel relationships, briefing solicitors effectively and managing costs
• Provide training and guidance to operational teams on legal and compliance matters
• Handle disputes, complaints, and potential legal issues with professional judgment and appropriate escalation
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting land management, property, and social enterprise sectors
• Ensure robust data protection compliance including GDPR, privacy policies, and information governance
• Support corporate governance including board processes, company secretarial functions, and regulatory filings
• Develop and maintain risk register, working with leadership to implement appropriate mitigation strategies
• Support HR on employment law matters including contracts, policies, and employee relations issues
• Advise on intellectual property protection including trademarks, brand protection, and confidentiality agreements
• Contribute to strategic planning helping leadership understand legal implications of growth plans and new initiatives
• Build systems and processes that allow business to scale while maintaining appropriate legal and compliance standards

Requirements

• Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) or Barrister with current practicing certificate, or equivalent legal qualification
• Minimum 3-5 years post-qualification experience, ideally with mix of private practice and in-house roles
• Strong commercial contracts experience including drafting, negotiation, and risk assessment
• Understanding of property law, landlord-tenant relationships, and lease agreements highly desirable
• Knowledge of public sector contracting and local authority partnerships advantageous
• Experience building compliance systems and managing regulatory risk
• Practical understanding of data protection law (GDPR) and ability to implement compliance programs
• Employment law knowledge sufficient to advise on HR matters and draft employment documentation
• Excellent communication skills with ability to explain legal concepts clearly to non-legal colleagues
• Commercial mindset that balances legal protection with business objectives and practical realities
• Self-starter comfortable working autonomously as sole in-house legal professional
• Strong judgment and risk assessment abilities - knowing when to say yes, no, or 'yes if '
• Pragmatic problem-solver focused on finding solutions rather than simply identifying obstacles
• Experience managing external legal advisors and controlling legal spend
• Organized and systematic with ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously
• Proficiency with legal technology, contract management systems, and Microsoft Office
• Genuine interest in social enterprise, community development, or sustainability sectors
• Values alignment with Gosen's commitment to ethical operations and community benefit