Senior Regulatory Lawyer

Job Description

About the Trust 

We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?  

Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Join Our Team: Senior Regulatory Lawyer

We’re excited to welcome a new Senior Regulatory Lawyer to join our Legal team.

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Working Hours & Location  

This role follows 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. The vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required.

Role Overview

This senior Trust‑wide role provides expert regulatory legal advice across a complex national landscape, supporting strong organisational governance and ensuring compliance with key statutory frameworks. As the Trust’s lead specialist in areas including health and safety, ESG, climate, governance and infrastructure regulation, the role holder will guide senior leaders on regulatory risk, statutory duties and potential corporate and director liability.
The Senior Regulatory Lawyer will lead the legal response to major incidents and investigations, coordinate statutory reporting, and manage engagement with regulators such as the Police and HSE on matters ranging from enforcement notices to interviews under caution. The role also oversees the Trust’s involvement in Coronial Inquests, ensures compliance with CDM Regulations, and provides legal oversight of procurement, contractor safety and project delivery.

Key Accountabilities:

• Acting as the Trust’s lead legal adviser on regulatory law, including health and safety, ESG, climate, governance, infrastructure and associated statutory regimes.
• Advising the Trust, including senior leaders and directors, on regulatory risk, corporate and director liability exposure, and statutory duties arising from health and safety and regulatory obligations.
• Leading and coordinating the legal response to serious incidents, investigations and statutory reporting obligations, ensuring proportionate and compliant engagement with regulators and stakeholders.
• Managing engagement with regulators, including the Police and HSE, in relation to investigations, improvement and prohibition notices, interviews under caution and enforcement proceedings.
• Advising on ESG-related regulatory obligations, including statutory reporting requirements, climate and environmental frameworks, and associated governance expectations.
• Overseeing the Trust’s involvement in Coronial Inquests, including engagement with HM Coroner and the Police, preparation of required documentation, and provision of legal support to Trust colleagues.
• Advising on compliance with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and associated project and contractor risk.
• Providing legal oversight of regulatory compliance in procurement, contractor safety management and project delivery, including allocation of statutory risk.
• Advising on public law obligations, statutory decision making processes and regulatory powers impacting operational activity.
• Advising, where required, on information governance and statutory disclosure matters arising from investigations and operational activity.
• Supporting the development of governance frameworks, policies and training to reduce regulatory exposure and strengthen compliance.
• Monitoring legislative and regulatory developments, identifying emerging risks and advising on implementation of regulatory change.
• Providing legal advice on other regulatory matters affecting the Trust, as required.

About you

You will be a qualified lawyer with significant regulatory experience (typically 10+ years’ PQE or equivalent) gained in private practice, the public sector or in‑house. You’ll bring strong expertise across health and safety, environmental regulation, governance and wider statutory frameworks, ideally with exposure to heritage, construction or maritime environments.
You have proven experience in crisis management, investigations, enforcement action and regulatory defence, along with a solid understanding of corporate liability, directors’ duties and organisational accountability. You’re confident advising senior leaders and Boards, providing pragmatic solutions to complex regulatory issues in operational settings.
Experience with CDM Regulations, contractor risk, operational infrastructure and (ideally) information governance and statutory disclosure obligations will be valuable. You’ll be comfortable working autonomously, managing a varied caseload and meeting tight deadlines, while supporting the Trust’s commitment to safeguarding and safe working environments for all.

Skills & Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with significant experience (10+ years PQE or equivalent experience) in regulatory law gained in private practice, public sector or in-house environments.
• Broad regulatory experience across health & safety, environmental, governance and associated statutory frameworks relevant to infrastructure, operational or public-facing organisations.
• Experience relating to complex heritage, construction and/or maritime environments is advantageous.
• Demonstrable experience of crisis management, investigations, enforcement processes and regulatory defence strategy.
• Strong understanding of corporate liability, directors’ duties and organisational accountability in regulated environments.
• Experience advising on CDM Regulations, contractor risk and operational infrastructure environments.
• Experience advising on information governance and statutory disclosure obligations is desirable, particularly within a public sector, charity or infrastructure environment.
• Demonstrable experience advising senior leadership and Boards on regulatory risk and strategic implications.
• Ability to provide pragmatic advice and resolve complex regulatory issues in an operational environment.
• Ability to work autonomously, manage a wide and varied caseload and meet tight deadlines.
• Be aware of your own responsibilities regarding safeguarding and support our commitment to providing safe environments and working practices that promote and protect the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk at all times.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

Contact & Application

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.

What We Offer

We offer an annual salary of £68,000. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1.

Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits 

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Our values

We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.

All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.

We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.

At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers. 

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us

Job Details

• Pay Type
• Hourly

• Hiring Min Rate
• 68,000 GBP

• Hiring Max Rate
• 68,000 GBP