Job Description:

Procurement & Commercial Lawyer 
£52,619 per annum - Grade 9 
Leeds / Hybrid 
Full time / Permanent  
 

We are seeking skilled and proactive Procurement & Commercial Lawyers to join our in-house Legal, Governance & Compliance Services team.  

This is an opportunity to become part of a small, high performing team, providing strategic legal advice across the full project lifecycle - from early development to the award of contracts. You will act as a senior advisor for the Combined Authority in relation to the in-house Legal Procurement & Commercial function and provide legal support in connection with all aspects of commercial contracts. This includes delivering robust, pragmatic support and advice on the public procurement regime, contract drafting, negotiation, and dispute resolution.

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 

Reporting into the Principal Lawyer, your key responsibilities will include:  

• Act as a senior legal advisor, supporting the Principal Lawyer and Service Lead to provide a quality legal service to the Combined Authority in relation to the Legal Transport function.   

• Work in partnership with the Combined Authority’s Officers, external stakeholders and partner authorities and in particular provide robust legal advice in connection with the Combined Authority’s procurement, implementation and delivery of major projects and schemes and in the fields of public procurement law, contracts, competition and intellectual property laws and practice.  

• Drafting high value/risk and complex commercial contract documentation for (but not restricted) to construction and infrastructure projects, subsidised transport schemes, consultancy arrangements, framework agreements and all other procurements for goods and services by the Combined Authority.  

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:  

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

• Substantial and extensive legal and practical knowledge and experience relating to the implementation and delivery of complex and high value public procurement projects and programmes.   

• Demonstrable knowledge of the legislative framework of related functions including some or all of the following: commercial contracts, public procurement regulations, infrastructure projects, construction law (including knowledge and experience of using the NEC suite of contracts/ other standard form contracts) public transport schemes and regeneration. 

• Demonstrable ability to communicate complex legal advice to elected members and officers at all levels of the organisation and significant experience of conveying legal advice in a politically sensitive environment. 

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.