Senior Legal Counsel - Based in Midlands or North of England

About DFT Operator

DfT Operator (DFTO) is the public sector rail Owning Group with responsibility for all train operating companies (TOC's) as they transfer into public ownership. It is a publicly owned company established by the Department for Transport in 2018.

Our ambition is to deliver safe, secure and sustainable transport to everyone, everywhere. At the heart of this promise is improving journeys and providing customers with an excellent service, while supporting the industry to build a more passenger-focused railway.

We currently have four train operators: London North Eastern Railway (LNER), Northern, Southeastern, and TransPennine Express (TPE), delivering four and a half thousand services a day, and 300 million customer journeys across our network every year. Over the next 3 years, we will complete the transfer of all passenger services operated under contracts with the Department for Transport (DfT).

Our vision is to unify and strengthen train operators under the DFTO banner. By working collaboratively, we aim to become industry-leading in safety, customer service, financial and operational performance.

About the Legal & Compliance Directorate

The Legal and Compliance Directorate plays a pivotal role providing legal support, oversight and strategic direction across multiple DFTO TOCs ("TOC Group") to ensure the efficient, timely and risk mitigated provision of quality and commercially focused legal advice.

The Team will play a critical supporting role in safeguarding the reputation of the TOCs within the TOC Group and will provide assistance to ensure that the companies strictly follow all relevant legislation. The Legal Counsels and Senior Legal Counsels will report to the General Counsel for the TOC Group and will assist with the management and supervision of junior members of the TOC Group legal team.

About the role

To assist the Regional General Counsel (TOCs) with providing legal support, oversight and strategic direction to multiple DFTO TOCs ("TOC Group") to ensure the efficient, timely and risk mitigated provision of quality and commercially focused legal advice. The role holder will play a critical supporting role in safeguarding the reputation of the TOCs within the TOC Group and will provide assistance to facilitate compliance by the companies with all relevant legislation.

The Senior Legal Counsel will report to the General Counsel for the TOC Group, and will assist with the management and supervision of the Legal Counsel and other developing members of the TOC Group legal team.

A TOC Group will, ultimately, consist of multiple DFTO TOCs, but in the early stages of the transition programme, a SLC may only have responsibility for one TOC. The composition of each TOC Group may change over time, and on more than one occasion, as the DFTO Group grows in size and to reflect wider business decisions in relation to the structure of the Group.

PLEASE NOTE! This opportunity can be based anywhere in the Midlands or North of the UK. We are recruiting a team which needs to support TOCs on a national basis and consequently are open to applicants from multiple regions of the UK and NOT simply London based applicants.

Who will we be looking for?

The core competencies for the team will include:

• Demonstrable experience of rail related legal and regulatory requirements (this is a desirable skill NOT a core competency as we welcome CV's from Non-rail based candidates)
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex legal and commercial documents
• Credible role model and ambassador of the DFTO culture/brand
• Consistently delivers on time and accurately
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Dynamic can-do attitude with the ability to find creative legal solutions and seek alternative options in challenging environments
• Track record of building strong relationships with the ability to engage, inspire and influence stakeholders
• Sound judgement, strong commercial acumen, resilience, and a balanced attitude to risk
• Proficiency in identifying, assessing, and mitigating legal risks to protect companies from potential legal issues

We have full job descriptions for all planned positions within the directorate and would welcome the opportunity to share the details with any interested parties.

Should you wish to learn more about any of the roles please contact our recruitment team within DFTO. If you apply with an expression of interest one of the team will reach out to arrange a detailed conversation.

Vacancy Details

Duration: Permanent

Location: The roles will all be hybrid based, as mentioned above this opportunity can be based anywhere in the Midlands or North of the UK. We are recruiting a team which needs to support TOCs on a national basis and consequently are open to applicants from multiple regions of the UK and NOT simply London based applicants.

Salary: £75,000 - £85,000 depending on experience.

Some of our great benefits:

Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered.

Annual Leave 25 days

Opportunities to learn across the wider industry

10% pension contribution

Plus more .

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work-life balance.

Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.