Liability Negotiations Advisor

Join the Southern Region where your work truly matters.

Covering Wessex, Sussex, and Kent, the Southern Region is one of the busiest and most dynamic parts of the railway. Our teams keep some of the UK's most vital passenger and freight routes moving every single day.

This is a place where collaboration, innovation, and resilience are key and where your contribution will directly impact millions of journeys. We are entering an exciting new chapter as we integrate with train operating companies under one national leadership, creating even greater opportunities to shape the future of rail.

From supporting major modernisation programmes to improving performance for local communities and enhancing safety across complex operational environments, Southern offers a fast-paced, rewarding environment to grow your career and make a real difference.

You will work in our legal team and provide expert advice on Network Rail's legal obligations relating to existing and proposed infrastructure, as well as third-party land use proposals. You will play a key role in protecting Network Rail's interests, reducing liabilities, managing external stakeholder relationships, and supporting strategic infrastructure and legislative initiatives.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide specialist advice on statutory, contractual, and asset protection matters, ensuring compliance with legal maintenance and renewal obligations and supporting informed decision-making.
• Support initiatives to reduce risk through the closure, diversion, or status reduction of level crossings.
• Identify and support opportunities to reduce, transfer, or eliminate Network Rail's maintenance and renewal liabilities, delivering long‑term value for the organisation.
• Lead and support negotiations with external stakeholders to reduce liabilities and secure appropriate legal agreements and documentation.
• Deliver expert advice and guidance to safeguard railway infrastructure from unauthorised, unlawful, or potentially harmful activities by neighbouring landowners and occupiers.
• Assist in the preparation and submission of Transport and Works Act applications, helping to resolve issues, objections, and stakeholder concerns.
• Advise internal stakeholders on the impact of externally promoted Transport and Works Orders, providing clear recommendations to protect Network Rail's interests.
• Provide specialist input to company responses on draft legislation, statutory consultations, and policy developments affecting the railway.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support the successful delivery of asset protection and liability management objectives.

• Degree‑level qualification, or equivalent experience, in Law, Property, Real Estate, Engineering, Transport, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrable experience of interpreting and applying statutory, common, contractual, and property law within a property, infrastructure, utilities, transport, or similar regulated environment.
• Experience of negotiating with internal and external stakeholders to achieve agreed outcomes, manage risk, and protect organisational interests.
• Proven ability to provide legally informed advice and recommendations to stakeholders on complex property, contractual, or infrastructure matters.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills,
• Membership of, or working towards membership of, a relevant professional body.
• Knowledge of railway infrastructure, asset management, or engineering principles and their application to operational railway environments.
• Experience of supporting Transport and Works Act Orders, statutory processes, consultations, or infrastructure projects.
• Understanding of level crossing, asset protection, or…