Legal Counsel

Date:  2 Sept 2026
Location: 

Shanghai, CN

Job Function:  Commercial
Business Unit:  China Regional Office

Role Details

 

Business, Location:

 

Legal & Compliance, China

Role:

 

Legal Counsel

Reports to:

Legal & Compliance Manager

 

Direct Reports:

 

None

 

Primary Purpose:

 

 

Oxford Instruments (“OI”) is a leading provider of high technology products and services to the world's leading industrial companies and scientific research communities.   Our core purpose is to support our customers to address some of the world's most pressing challenges, enabling a greener economy, increased connectivity, improved health and leaps in scientific understanding.

 

The group is headquartered in Oxford, in the UK, and comprises different business units operating through regional offices across the global. 

 

You will play a key role in drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts with customers and business partners in China, while supporting the implementation of legal and compliance policies and procedures. This role focuses on enabling business growth, improving financial and operational outcomes, and managing legal and compliance risk.

 

 

Key Responsibilities

  • Draft, review and negotiate contracts and related documents for the sale of goods, using OI standard terms or customer terms as appropriate, and coordinate input from key stakeholders including Sales, Business Operations, Group Legal and BU Finance.
  • Support Sales teams in preparing and submitting bids and proposals by providing practical legal and compliance advice, ensuring compliant responses to RFPs/RFQs, following bidding approval procedures, and meeting required deadlines.
  • Resolve contract-related issues and provide practical, risk-based guidance to the business.
  • Conduct risk assessments for sales contracts in line with OI policies and procedures, liaise with relevant stakeholders, and ensure required approvals are obtained before proposals are submitted or contracts are executed.
  • Assist with the implementation and monitoring of compliance policies and procedures in China, including anti-bribery and anti-corruption, whistleblowing, data protection, trade compliance and sanctions-related requirements.
  • Support third-party and channel partner compliance processes, including due diligence coordination, document review, red flag identification, risk escalation, and maintenance of appropriate records and approvals.
  • Support compliance communications and training initiatives, including preparing localized materials, coordinating completion tracking, explaining policy requirements to relevant teams, and reinforcing a speak-up culture.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

 

Indicative Performance Measures

  • Effective embedding of compliance, contract and risk assessment procedures, as reflected in stakeholder feedback and adherence to required processes.
  • Improved consistency and standardization of contractual arrangements and related processes.
  • Reduction in contracts containing undesirable or non-standard terms.

 

Person Specification - essential requirements unless stated

 

Education / Qualifications:

 

  • Bachelor’s degree in law or a related legal qualification.
  • At least 5 years of experience in an in-house legal team and law firm.
  • Experience drafting, negotiating and assessing sales and other commercial contracts, preferably in a similar industry, with a sound understanding of general commercial law.

Professional Skills/ Abilities:

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Chinese.

 

Personal Qualities:

  • Well-organised, precise and highly attentive to detail.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to engage effectively with internal stakeholders on a broad range of legal, compliance and business issues.
  • Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills, with sound business acumen.
  • Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Evidence-led and process-driven approach.
  • Able to support and drive operational change.
  • Ability to develop practical, process-driven solutions.
  • Strong time management skills and ability to manage competing deadlines.
  • Proactive, pragmatic and positive, with a can-do attitude.

 

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