Lawyer (Procurement & Commercial)
£49,359 per annum (pay award pending) Grade 9
Leeds / Hybrid
Hours Full time 37 hours per week
Tenure Fixed term 9 months
Sunday 7 September 2025 at 11:55pm
Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share.
We currently have a vacancy for a Lawyer (Procurement & Commercial) to join our Procurement and Commercial Services team.
We are seeking a skilled and proactive Commercial Lawyer 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 contract drafting, negotiation, and dispute resolution.
Our Offer
Alongside a competitive salary, we offer an excellent benefits package including:
· 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 fully funded 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 – Procurement & Commercial; your key responsibilities will include:
· Act as a senior legal advisor, supporting the Principal Lawyer and Service Lead to provide a quality commercial legal service to the Combined Authority.
· Work in partnership with the Combined Authority’s officers, external stakeholders, partner authorities and West Yorkshire Police to provide robust legal advice to the Combined Authority’s Policing & Crime team in relation to procurements, the implementation and delivery of major projects and schemes, funding arrangements, contracts and general commercial law and practice.
· Provide legal support required by means of:
o Drafting, negotiating and interpreting commercial contract documentation in connection with the procurements of goods and services by the Combined Authority;
o Advising on the implementation and interpretation of Public Procurement Regulations, the organisation’s standing orders, tender procedure and all other relevant statutory legislation to ensure legal compliance at all times;
o Working closely with the Combined Authority’s Commercial Service, advising on the commercial aspects of all procurements;
o Liaising with the other parts of the Legal Projects, Procurement & Commercial team and the Combined Authority’s Commercial function, as appropriate, to provide an integrated legal and procurement service.
Please review the Role Profile 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.
· Significant experience of successfully working as a legal advisor at a senior level within one or more areas of the Legal Commercial Service.
· Practical experience of successfully performing in a similar role.
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.
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