Senior Lawyer / Team Leader - up to 12 month maternity cover
Posted 9 hours 24 minutes ago by Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd
Employer: National Highways
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, B4 6GA
Pay: £68,930 to £82,380 per year
Contract Type: Contract
Hours: Full time
Disability Confident: Yes
Closing Date: 17/07/2026
About this jobWe're looking for a Senior Lawyer/Team Leader on a 12-month fixed term contract at National Highways. In this role you will advise on all aspects of legal operational matters, providing advice to the business on legal issues arising from the day-to-day operation of the strategic road network.
The role covers tasks such as managing the statutory instrument making process; advising on traffic regulation, management and signage; supporting the Network Claims and Dart Charge teams; guiding the Traffic Officer Service on duties and powers; handling Highways Act 1980 responsibilities and offences including unauthorised incursions, encroachments and obstructions; overseeing litter responsibilities; reviewing automated vehicles and abnormal loads; offering counter fraud and anti-money laundering advice; supporting staff in court proceedings; and advising on resilience, business continuity and crisis management.
As a Senior Lawyer / Team Leader you will oversee and lead the work of a team, supporting the Legal Operations Director, Deputy General Counsel and General Counsel with directorate management responsibilities. The position can be based from Birmingham, Guildford, Bristol or Bedford offices and will involve travel to other offices when required. It will be worked on a hybrid basis, with a minimum of two days per week in the office.
Your responsibilities include: delivering specialist legal advice, leading on complex and strategic matters, managing reputational risk, maintaining an overview of emerging legal risks, managing stakeholder relationships, procuring external legal support, and providing direction, supervision and line management for a team. You will ensure timely setting of objectives, conduct performance reviews, and develop succession and professional development plans.
Qualifications and experience: Qualified Solicitor or Barrister authorised to practise in the UK, with demonstrable experience of public law, regulatory law, dispute resolution and litigation, legislative interpretation and drafting, traffic regulation, and operational policy matters. You should possess strong analytical skills, able to provide effective written and oral advice, organise a complex workload and identify solutions to intricate legal and business issues. You should demonstrate the ability to influence and work effectively with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels, and have experience contributing to the management of the relevant division and the Legal Services Directorate, leading, managing, and developing team members, fostering high performance, collaboration and continuous professional development.
About us: National Highways manages and improves England's motorways and major A roads to help customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, guided by values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership. Legal Services encompasses the national legal team, information rights team and company secretariat, providing strategic legal advice on commercial, planning, operational, highways, employment, regulatory and property matters, ensuring compliance and minimising risk exposure.