Senior/Principal Commercial Lawyer

Tfgm; Manchester; On-site; GBP 57,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A public transport authority in Greater Manchester is seeking a Senior/Principal Lawyer to lead complex public procurements and shape legal frameworks for transformative projects. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in public procurement and commercial contract law, with a focus on making a meaningful impact on transport services. Competitive salary between £57,770 and £79,805 is offered, alongside flexible working options and generous benefits.

Benefits

28 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Free travel on buses across Greater Manchester

Local Government defined pension scheme

Enhanced family-friendly leave policies

Qualifications

• At least 7 years’ post-qualification experience.
• Strong commercial/corporate background and experience advising under PCR, UCR, and Procurement Act 2023.
• Tech procurement experience is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Lead on complex, high-value public procurements.
• Advise on procurement strategy and risk.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to deliver legal solutions.

Skills

Public procurement

Commercial contract law

Ability to manage caseload independently

Experience in highly regulated environments

Understanding of public sector governance

Education

Solicitor or FILEX qualification

Job description

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

Are you looking for a role where your legal expertise fuels real change?

As part of our dynamic, fast‑paced legal team, you'll be at the heart of Greater Manchester's bold vision: driving forward transformative projects that improve lives, empower communities, and build a fairer, greener, and more prosperous city region. This is more than legal work; it's your chance to help shape the future of one of the UK's most ambitious and forward‑thinking regions.

Your Role

As a Senior/Principal Lawyer, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the legal frameworks behind some of the most ambitious projects in the UK. You'll:

• Lead on complex, high‑value public procurements and supplier contracts that underpin the Bee Network and other major initiatives.
• Advise on procurement strategy and risk, draft bespoke contracts, and resolve disputes, ensuring TfGM's interests are protected while enabling innovation.
• Work on cutting‑edge projects involving commercial tech, software, IT, telecoms, and digital media, helping us modernise and future‑proof our services.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners to deliver legal solutions that make a tangible difference to millions of people.

For more info see Job Profile below.

Who are we?

Transport for Greater Manchester oversees public transport in Greater Manchester, supporting the Mayor and Greater Manchester Combined Authority as the Transport Authority to deliver and improve transport services, facilities and information to make travel easier for everyone. This is a busy and exciting time for us as transport will play a vital role in supporting growth and prosperity in the UK's largest regional economy outside London. You will be part of a busy and supportive legal team as we further advance the Bee Network to create a world class integrated public transport and active travel offer within GM.

What you'll bring

What you do and how you do it is important - whatever type of role you work in at TfGM - and even small behaviours and actions can have a really big impact. At TfGM, our behaviours bring to life our values of Deliver, Care and Adapt.

We're looking for:

• A qualified solicitor or FILEX with at least 7 years’ post‑qualification experience in public procurement and commercial contract law.
• Strong commercial/corporate background and experience advising under PCR, UCR, and the Procurement Act 2023.
• Ability to manage a broad caseload independently while contributing to a supportive team culture.
• Experience in highly regulated environments and understanding of public sector governance.
• Tech procurement experience is a bonus – but not essential.

What we can offer you

This is a permanent role with a salary of £57 770 – £79 805 depending on years post qualification.

At TfGM we encourage candidates to discuss flexible working options at any stage of the recruitment process. We are happy to #talkflexibleworking to help colleagues maintain a healthy work life balance.

Our benefits include:

• Generous annual leave starting at 28 days (plus bank holidays), increasing with service, with options to buy more.
• Free travel on buses across Greater Manchester, plus rail or Metrolink travel to and from work.
• Local Government defined pension scheme with life cover of 3× salary and options to boost your contributions.
• Enhanced family‑friendly leave policies, including those supporting fertility treatment, alongside flexible and hybrid working and a special leave policy to support a range of unexpected events. Please note that qualification criteria may apply, including a requirement to have been employed with the organisation for a minimum specified period of time.
• Discover more benefits including wellbeing support, Personal and Career Development, Flexible working, financial support and more on our website.

Why TfGM?

• Meaningful work: Play a key role in shaping the future of transport in Greater Manchester, impacting millions of lives each day.
• Professional Development: Opportunities to grow and develop your career through continuous learning and training.
• Collaborative culture: Work within a supportive and inclusive environment where your ideas are valued.

What's next?

If you believe you have the skills and experience required, we'd really like to hear from you. To apply please submit your CV and also provide a covering letter providing clear examples of how your experience meets the requirements of the role, all appointments will be based on merit. Our short‑listing process is anonymised, so please do not include your name or contact details on either of these documents. If any personal details are included these will be visible to the hiring manager.

We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. However, we value human talent and are looking for passionate individuals to join our organisation. Please ensure you personally complete your application and read all the instructions carefully to maximise your chances of success.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting, however we understand that AI may be used as a reasonable adjustment; if using AI to support your application, please give a brief explanation why to help ensure fair selection process.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within your supporting statement.

TfGM is proud to be an equal opportunities employer that encourages and celebrates diversity. We want to recruit and retain a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and welcome individuals from all backgrounds by committing to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We will offer support and reasonable adjustments if required and we also have a Guaranteed Assessment Scheme which you can find out more information on here.

For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK – if in doubt please visit the following link Employers' right to work checklist – GOV.UK – www.gov.uk. Please note we are not a licensed sponsor.

Please note we may close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications.

NOTE TO AGENCIES – we will be accepting direct applications only for this role. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral CV.