National Highways plays a critical role in maintaining and developing England’s strategic road network, ensuring safe and efficient journeys for millions, daily. As a government company, National Highways is committed to safety, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence.

National Highways is seeking an exceptional leader to join as Director of Legal Services (Operations & Employment). In this senior role, the postholder will lead the Operations Legal Division and the Employment Law Team, providing expert, pragmatic legal advice across operational and people-related matters, while ensuring National Highways’ legal interests are robustly protected. This role will report to the General Counsel and will be part of the Legal Services leadership team, which is responsible for managing the directorate.

This person will take responsibility for complex strategic legal issues, including traffic management and enforcement, civil litigation, autonomous vehicles, statutory instruments and traffic orders, employment disputes, and reputational risk, while managing and developing a high-performing legal team and working collaboratively with the General Counsel, Executive Directors, government departments, and key external stakeholders to provide authoritative guidance on challenging legal and regulatory matters.

This role requires a highly experienced lawyer with deep expertise in public law, and regulatory frameworks. In addition, they will need an understanding of employment law. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of leading expert teams, delivering under pressure, and providing strategic legal advice at an executive level. They will be proactive, practical, and robust, with excellent client-handling skills and the ability to influence stakeholders across the organisation.

Joining National Highways in this role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the safe, efficient, and legally compliant operation of England’s strategic road network, while shaping the future of the organisation’s legal services.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the National Highways on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit roles.saxbam.com using reference QBRVC. Alternatively email Belinda.beck@saxbam.com. Applications should be received by noon on Wednesday 18 March 2026.