Property, H&S & Environment Senior Lawyer

Why this job matters

Our purpose is to use the power of communication to make a better world. For each other, for our customers, for society and our communities. 

You’ll give expert legal advice that’s clear, practical, and commercial; enable BT to do business and deliver excellent customer experience; and help manage BT’s legal risk, reputation & brand in relation to environment, property and health and safety in line with BT’s Strategy and Purpose. 

What you’ll be doing

Responsibilities:

• Act as the primary legal contact for all environmental and health & safety matters across BT Group, building strong relationships with internal stakeholders.
• Represent Legal at steering groups and sub-committees, prepare briefings for the Executive Committee and BT Group Board, and attend ExCo or Board meetings when required.
• Provide strategic and technical legal advice on real estate and property asset management matters, particularly in relation to contentious issues such as rights to light and dilapidations claims.
• Deliver expert legal guidance on environmental law, with a focus on waste management, product safety and stewardship, ISO 14001 accreditation, and energy efficiency.
• Advise on health and safety law, including compliance with legislation, risk assessments, and the effectiveness of BT’s internal policies and procedures.
• Lead legal support during environmental or health & safety incidents and investigations, coordinating expert input, managing communications, and engaging with external regulators such as the HSE.
• Manage external legal counsel and associated budgets, driving innovation and efficiency in legal service delivery. Collaborate with BT’s Insurance teams to ensure appropriate handling of insured claims.
• Own and strengthen relationships with environmental regulators through proactive engagement and communication.
• Ensure internal governance processes and contract templates related to health, safety, and environment are current and effective. Deliver or coordinate legal training for internal teams.
• Monitor and report on upcoming statutory and regulatory changes in health, safety, and environmental law, providing insight and training to help the business anticipate and manage risk.

Skills and Experiences

Skills

• Dynamic Presentation: Confident and engaging presenter, capable of briefing internal and external audiences at all levels, including the Executive Committee and BT Group Board.
• Bold Decision-Making: Able to make sound decisions under pressure and with incomplete information, drawing on experience in dispute resolution and incident management.
• Persuasive Communication: Skilled in influencing senior stakeholders through clear, concise, and strategic legal advice, supported by logical reasoning and data.
• Leadership: Leads with authenticity and integrity, prioritising effectively based on business needs and collaborating across teams to deliver results.
• Innovation: Continuously seeks opportunities to improve legal processes, drive efficiency, and implement impactful change.

Experience

Mandatory:

• Extensive technical expertise and broad experience across environmental, property, and health & safety law—particularly in areas such as asbestos management, dilapidations, and waste compliance.
• Proven track record in managing health and safety claims (both litigated and non-litigated) and responding to environmental incidents.
• Qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5 years’ post-qualification experience (PQE).
• Strong understanding of the UK’s legal and regulatory framework for environmental and health & safety compliance.
• Experience advising on environmental law in contexts where compliance is essential for securing business.

Preferred:

• In-house legal experience within a corporate environment with a significant property or infrastructure footprint.
• Legal experience in the telecoms or infrastructure sectors.

Benefits

• Annual On target bonus 15% (personal and company multipliers)
• Car allowance - worth £5500 a year, can be taken as cash)
• Private healthcare for you and your family
• BT Pension scheme; minimum 5% employee contribution, BT contribution 10%
• Life Assurance
• Direct share scheme
• Exclusive colleague discounts on our latest and greatest BT broadband packages
• 50% off EE mobile pay monthly or SIM only plans and 50% discount for friends and family on EE SIM only plans
• My Discounts gives colleagues access to unbeatable savings on everyday purchases at hundreds of retailers
• Discounted EE TV including TNT Sport and the NOW Entertainment membership
• Great support for working parents including pay whilst on maternity, adoptive, and paternity leave
• 25 days annual leave (not including bank holidays), increasing with service with buy holiday option
• Volunteering days so you can give back to your local community
• Brand new electric vehicle salary sacrifice arrangement, known as ‘My EV’

Our leadership standards

Looking in:
Leading inclusively and Safely
I inspire and build trust through self-awareness, honesty and integrity.
Owning outcomes
I take the right decisions that benefit the broader organisation.

Looking out:
Delivering for the customer
I execute brilliantly on clear priorities that add value to our customers and the wider business.
Commercially savvy
I demonstrate strong commercial focus, bringing an external perspective to decision-making.

Looking to the future:
Growth mindset
I experiment and identify opportunities for growth for both myself and the organisation.
Building for the future
I build diverse future-ready teams where all individuals can be at their best.