Public Procurement Counsel

East West Railway Company; Milton Keynes; Sur place; GBP 70 000 - 100 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Employer pension 12%

36 days annual leave

Volunteer days

Family-friendly policies

Life assurance 4x salary

Employee Assistance Programme

Perkbox benefits

Recognition programme

Learning & development

Résumé du poste

East West Railway Company is seeking a public procurement lawyer to advise across the procurement lifecycle for high-value infrastructure projects in the Oxford–Milton Keynes–Cambridge corridor. You will work with Commercial, project teams and external lawyers to shape procurement decisions and deliver robust, defensible outcomes.

The role offers exposure to complex matters, with opportunities to lead on strategy, market engagement and contract management while supporting the programme’s

Qualifications

• Qualification as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales with at least 3 years' PQE.
• Experience advising on UK public procurement law in private practice, government, or regulated environments.
• Good working knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 and/or previous regimes.
• Ability to manage a varied workload in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative approach with procurement, commercial and project teams.
• Competitive salary reflecting your skills and experience.

Responsabilités

• Provide legal advice on complex and high-value procurements across infrastructure, construction, professional services, technology and corporate procurements.
• Advise on procurement strategy and lawful routes to market under the Procurement Act 2023 and related guidance.
• Advise on direct awards, framework agreements, contract modifications, exemptions, conflicts of interest, transparency and risk management.
• Advise on market engagement, specifications, tender documentation, evaluation methodologies, clarifications and standstill.
• Support procurement challenges and disputes where required.
• Help develop procurement tools, templates, guidance and ways of working.
• Provide clear, pragmatic advice ensuring lawful decisions when public money is involved.
• Engage in broader legal work across EWR Co as opportunities arise.
• Act as a role model aligned with EWR Co's Ways of Working.

Connaissances

Procurement law expertise

Public procurement advice

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder collaboration

Legal risk management

Formation

Solicitor/Barrister (England & Wales)

3+ years PQE

Description du poste

East West Rail is a nationally significant railway project which aims to deliver much-needed transport connections for the vibrant communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, which blend beautiful landscapes and a rich cultural heritage with globally renowned centres of education, business, technology and an increasingly dynamic business scene. Together these communities contribute around £111 billion to the national economy each year.

However, the lack of good East-West transport connections makes it harder for residents to make the most of everything the region has to offer. From faster commutes to days out with friends and family, EWR will make it easier to reach the things that matter most, bringing a range of benefits to communities between Oxford and Cambridge, and across the UK more broadly.

EWR is also one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects, which the government committed to delivering in full in the Autumn 2024 Budget, and again in the 2025 Spending Review as part of its ambition to unlock the potential of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor.

EWR is being championed by the Government as a key driver to economic growth leading to a potential £78 Billion boost to the UK economy: supporting new towns, housing, and regeneration.

Role Summary:

This is an opportunity to work on some of EWR Co’s most strategically significant and high-value procurements. You will advise across the procurement lifecycle, from procurement strategy, market engagement and ITTs through to evaluation, award and contract management.

EWR Co operates in a fast-paced, delivery-focused environment and our legal and commercial frameworks continue to evolve as the programme develops. You will work closely with Commercial, project teams, senior stakeholders and experienced external lawyers, with real opportunity to take ownership of matters and help shape how procurement legal support works across EWR Co. For particularly complex or specialist matters, you will have access to external legal support while remaining closely involved in the work and decisions.

Key Responsibilities:

Your work will include:

• Providing legal advice on complex and high-value procurements, including major infrastructure, construction, professional services, technology and corporate procurements.
• Advising on procurement strategy and helping teams identify lawful, commercially workable routes to market under the Procurement Act 2023, Procurement Regulations 2024 and associated Cabinet Office guidance, as well as legacy procurements governed by previous procurement regimes, including the Utilities Contracts Regulations.
• Advising on direct awards, framework agreements and call-off arrangements, contract modifications, exemptions, conflicts of interest, transparency and equal treatment, and supporting the proportionate assessment and management of legal risk.
• Advising on market engagement, specifications, conditions of participation, tender documentation, evaluation methodologies, clarifications, moderation, award decisions, notices and standstill, helping ensure procurement decisions are robust and defensible.
• Supporting the management of procurement challenges and disputes, where required.
• Helping develop practical procurement legal tools, policies, templates, guidance and ways of working, with the opportunity to influence how we do things as EWR Co and the programme develop.
• Providing clear, pragmatic advice that enables delivery while ensuring decisions involving public money are lawful, properly governed and defensible.
• Getting involved in broader legal work across EWR Co where your experience or interests allow.
• Acting as a role model for EWR Co’s vision and behaviours, working in ways aligned with EWR Co’s Ways of Working and encouraging others to do the same.

Qualifications, Skills and Knowledge:

We are looking for a public procurement lawyer who enjoys solving difficult problems and wants to work closely with the business. You will need:

• Qualification as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales with at least 3 years' PQE.
• Experience advising on UK public procurement law, whether gained in private practice, government, an arm’s-length body, infrastructure, utilities or another regulated environment.
• A good working knowledge of the Procurement Act 2023 and/or the previous UK procurement regimes.
• Confidence to provide practical advice and knowing when to draw on wider expertise.
• The ability to manage a varied workload and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• A collaborative approach and an interest in working closely with procurement, commercial and project professional.
• Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
• Up to 12% employer pension contribution to support your future
• 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus the option to buy up to 2 extra days
• 2 volunteering days, a chance for you to give back to the community
• Enhanced family-friendly policies to support you and your loved ones
• Life assurance (4x your annual salary) for peace of mind
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support when you need it
• Access to Perkbox for a wide range of discounts and well-being benefits
• Recognition programme, including on-the-spot and annual awards
• Advanced learning and development opportunities to help you grow.

Diversity and Inclusion:

At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple - to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and experiences.