Legal Service Lead – Major Transport Projects

West Yorkshire Combined Authority; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Annual leave 28 days

Free bus & rail travel

LGPS pension

Professional development

Annual cost of living increases

Parental and bereavement leave

Wellbeing support

Modern Leeds offices

Job summary

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is seeking a Legal Service Lead – Major Transport Projects in Leeds, with hybrid working and a salary around £70,055 per annum. You will lead the Legal Major Transport Projects service, handling high‑value, sensitive matters and delivering timely, risk-based advice to support regional transport developments through 2028 and beyond.

The role requires a qualified solicitor or barrister with substantial public sector experience and a proven ability to supervise a

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with significant post‑qualification experience, ideally in a public sector organisation.
• Substantial and extensive legal knowledge relating to local government law and combined authorities.
• Strong knowledge of the legislative framework for related functions.
• Evidence of keeping up to date in area of expertise to improve performance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and manage the Legal Major Transport Projects Service to deliver high‑quality, risk‑based legal advice.
• Provide significant technical expertise across Major Transport Projects and manage a personal caseload of complex matters.

Skills

Solicitor/Barrister leadership

Public sector experience

Major Transport Projects knowledge

Education

Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with practising certificate

Job description

Legal Service Lead – Major Transport Projects

£70,055 per annum - Grade 11

Leeds / Hybrid

Full time - 37 hours per week

Permanent

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

• 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 supported 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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

About You

• 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.
• Substantial and extensive legal and practical knowledge and experience relating to one or more of the practice areas within the Major Transport Projects area.
• Substantial and extensive legal and practical knowledge and experience relating to local government law and practice as combined authorities.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the legislative framework of related functions.
• 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.

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