Assistant to UK Legal and Company Secretariat

Job description

About Springer Nature Group

Springer Nature opens the doors to discovery for researchers, educators, clinicians and other professionals. Every day, around the globe, our imprints, books, journals, platforms and technology solutions reach millions of people. For over 180 years our brands and imprints have been a trusted source of knowledge to these communities and today, more than ever, we see it as our responsibility to ensure that fundamental knowledge can be found, verified, understood and used by our communities - enabling them to improve outcomes, make progress, and benefit the generations that follow. Visit group.springernature.com and follow @SpringerNature / @SpringerNatureGroup

Job Title: Assistant to UK Legal and Company Secretariat

Location: London, Hybrid

Fixed Term, Maternity Cover, Full time

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual seeking a fixed-term administrative position within the General Counsel's Office("GCO") of Springer Nature, a global publisher dedicated to providing the best possible service to the whole research, professional and education community. We help authors to share their discoveries, enable researchers to find, access and understand the work of others and support librarians and institutions with innovations in technology and data. This role will be providing the Legal and Company Secretariat Teams within the General Counsel's Office with administrative support on a broad range of matters. The ideal candidate will be an experienced assistant with knowledge of company secretarial matters.

Responsibilities:

The responsibilities of the Assistant to GCO and Company Secretariat will involve:

- Organising, setting up and preparing meetings using electronic calendars and conference systems. This may includepreparing presentations and reports.

- Supporting the smooth operation of the Legal Team, which includes conducting legal research and effectively communicating its impact on the business.

- Liaising with notaries and law firms to ensure the safe delivery and return of documents in the UK and overseas.

- Liaising with Companies House and company auditors for all UK statutory filings and administration.

- Maintaining online and physical Minute Books and Statutory Registers

- Updating and circulation of structure charts (Microsoft Visio) and company information overviews

- Updating the Forms Information Hub on the Springer Nature intranet site with corporate and legal information

- Processing the payment of invoices.

- Completing expense claims ensuring that they adhere to company policy and submitting to accounts in a timely manner.

- Organising travel requirements, including making reservations for flights, hotels, trains and taxis.

- Updating and maintaining the GCO's intranet page.

- Supporting the annual budgeting process where necessary.

- Promoting awareness of policies throughout the business.

- Drafting simple contracts from precedents, such as non-disclosure agreements.

- General clerical duties such as photocopying, mailing and filing.

- Assisting with ad hoc projects as and when required.

Key Relationships:

- Colleagues in the General Counsel's Office.

- Other central functions (tax, finance, HR, communications, facilities)

- Executive PAs.

- External advisers.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications:

Experience:

Essential

- Experience working as an assistant or in an administrative role.

- Experience in providing company secretarial support, Including liaising with notaries and external law firms

- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and equivalent Google packages.

Desirable

- Commercial legal experience with a focus on company law.

- Proficient in Diligent Entities (previously Blueprint), the corporate structure database.

- Proficient in Microsoft Visio (for structure charts)

- Proficient in Google Forms (for questionnaires and decision trees)

- Experience in publishing/media.

Skills:

- A collaborative, cordial and accessible manner and the ability to communicate and connect with diverse groups to provide clear, accurate and consistent information.

- Good research and analysis skill.

- Strong organisational and management skills. In particular, an ability to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities simultaneously and enthusiasm to work in a vibrant and fast-paced environment.

- A desire to form part of an energetic and well respected team and to contribute to the GCO's future success.

- Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentation) with an open communication style and willingness to engage in constructive debate.

- Efficient and well-organised with good attention to detail.

- Creativity and persistence in problem solving.

- Ability to work independently and identify what needs to be done.

Qualifications:

- University degree preferred.

- Secretarial qualifications or similar is desirable.

- Corporate Governance Institute qualification or similar is desirable

At Springer Nature, we're committed to creating a great working environment which includes the benefits you receive,opportunities for you to develop your skills and ways to get to know your colleagues. Some of these include:

- A core benefits package and a flex fund to put towards financial, health and wellbeing and lifestyle benefits of your choosing.

- Support networks that focus on fostering dialogue around diversity, community building, advice and advocacy.

- Wellbeing initiatives to support in maintaining a healthy work like balance.

- 24 hour access to our learning and development platform Leap to help develop your skills.

Further information about life at Springer Nature and the range of benefits available which you can tailor to meet yourneeds will be shared during the interview process.

To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter including a paragraph expressing why you have applied for this position at Springer Nature. We are a DEI employer and welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Springer Nature is a Disability Confident Committed Employer and we encourage applications from candidates with disabilities. If youconsider yourself to have a disability or learning difficulty and wish to submit your application in an alternative format or would like to discuss reasonable adjustments during the application and interview process, please get in touch either by phone on +44 (0)207 014 4020or by email [email protected] so we can make any necessary arrangements.

At Springer Nature we value and celebrate the diversity of our people. We recognise the many benefits of a diverse workforce and strive for an inclusive workplace that empowers all our colleagues to thrive. Our search for the best talent fully encompasses and embraces these values and principles. https://group.springernature.com/jp/group/taking-responsibility/diversity-equity-inclusion.

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At Springer Nature, we value the diversity of our teams and work to build an inclusive culture, where people are treated fairly and can bring their differences to work and thrive. We empower our colleagues and value their diverse perspectives as we strive to attract, nurture and develop the very best talent. Springer Nature was awarded Diversity Team of the Year at the 2022 British Diversity Awards. Find out more about our DEI work here https://group.springernature.com/gp/group/taking-responsibility/diversity-equity-inclusion

If you have any access needs related to disability, neurodivergence or a chronic condition, please contact us so we can make all necessary accommodation.

For more information about career opportunities in Springer Nature please visit https://careers.springernature.com/