Legal Service Lead – Major Transport Projects

Legal Service Lead – Major Transport Projects £70,055 per annum - Grade 11 Leeds / Hybrid Full time - 37 hours per week

Permanent

Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share.

We currently have a vacancy for a Legal Service Lead – Major Transport Projects to join our Legal, Governance & Compliance Service.

This is the ideal role for an ambitious senior lawyer looking to blend commercial acumen with meaningful public-sector leadership, bringing about change which affects millions of lives. You will have a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of regional transformation, working on the historic rollout of the Weaver Network. With the first major franchise contracts recently finalised, you will lead the ongoing, phased transition of routes, fares, and depot acquisitions through 2028 and beyond. You will help to steer one of West Yorkshire’s most ambitious infrastructure developments; the multi-billion pound Mass Transit project from business case development to implementation and operation.

Our Offer

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Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.

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Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.

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Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5).

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Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.

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Investing in you – Take advantage of supported professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.

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Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.

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Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.

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Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.

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Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.

The Role

Reporting into the Head of Legal – Major Transport Projects, your key responsibilities will include:

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Provide strategic leadership and manage the Legal Major Transport Projects Service to demonstrably provide and evidence high-quality risk-based outcomes focused legal advice that is delivered effectively, efficiently and timely.

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Provide significant technical expertise in one or more of the practice areas within Legal Major Transport Projects, including carrying and discharging a personal caseload of complex, high value and sensitive matters.

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To provide a strategic link to Mass Transit, Bus Reform and other major transport projects to ensure an integrated and proactive service support function is provided to the Combined Authority through timely collaboration and joint working between the services.

Please review the Role Profile for more information about the responsibilities.

About You

You will have the following key skills, attributes, education, and experience:

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Qualified Solicitor or Barrister entitled to hold a practising certificate or full CILEX (Fellowship) with significant recent post-qualification experience, ideally in a public sector organisation.

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Substantial and extensive legal and practical knowledge and experience relating to one or more of the practice areas within the Major Transport Projects area.

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Substantial and extensive legal and practical knowledge and experience relating to local government law and practice as combined authorities.

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Demonstrable knowledge of the legislative framework of related functions.

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Demonstrable evidence of keeping up to date in area of expertise and skills relevant to the Combined Authority to improve the organisation’s performance and professionalism.

To Apply

If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form on our website and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements within the Role Profile. Please visit our Advice for Candidates webpage and review the guidance on this page for support in completing your application form.

Further Information

The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.

Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met.

Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis