Principal Lawyer

Principal Lawyer – Transport

£60,037 per annum - Grade 10

Leeds / Hybrid Full time / Permanent - 37 hours per week

Closing date – 17 May at 23:55

Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share. We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Principal Lawyer to join our Legal, Governance & Compliance Service. This pivotal role sits within our specialist Transport Legal team, acting as the central point of legal support for the Bus Franchising and Mass Transit programmes. Working closely with internal Combined Authority legal teams and external legal partners, you will help deliver a comprehensive and high-quality legal service that underpins some of the region’s most ambitious transport transformation projects. As Principal Lawyer, you will support the Service Lead and Head of Legal across all aspects of major transport scheme implementation, ensuring strong commercial awareness, full statutory compliance, and the effective delivery of complex legal advice. Your work will span Transport and Works Act processes (or equivalent), land acquisition, construction contracts, and other project-critical legal matters. You will also engage proactively with a wide range of stakeholders - including senior officers, Directors, elected members, and government officials - to help drive the Combined Authority’s Mass Transit programme through to successful completion and implementation. We are looking for a strategic legal professional with deep experience in major infrastructure, transport, public law, or complex project delivery, and the confidence to influence and advise at senior levels.

Our Offer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

· 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:

· Take the strategic lead on the provision of legal advice and support to the Mass Transit (MT) project (and other major projects as required), working as an integral part of the wider MT project team, effectively anticipating and responding to opportunities and change to enable the Combined Authority to deliver the project in a timely and efficient manner.

· Shape, lead and manage the MT legal support function, leading and co-ordinating the provision of both internal and external legal support to provide the Combined Authority with a proactive, professional, comprehensive legal service.

Please review the Role Profile on our website for more information about the responsibilities.

About You

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

· You will be a qualified Solicitor or Barrister with a current practicing certificate or full CILEX (fellowship) qualification.

· Substantial and extensive legal and practical knowledge and experience relating to the implementation and delivery of complex and high value infrastructure projects and schemes including desirable experience of supporting complex transport projects.

· Demonstrate an awareness of the public sector statutory regime and have practical knowledge and experience relating to local government law and the functions and practices of combined authorities or be prepared to become accomplished in this area.

· Demonstrable knowledge of the legislative framework of related functions including some or all of the following: public transport schemes, enhanced partnerships, Mass Transit, infrastructure projects, construction, real estate law (acquisitions, development, site assembly, Lands Tribunal), public transport regulation, subsidy control and competition law and Transport & Works Act Orders.

· Whilst experience in the key responsibilities is desirable, we are happy to consider applicants who have transferrable skills and a strong work ethic to enable development into the role.

To Apply

If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form 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