Job Description:

Disputes Manager – Land & Property | HS2

Birmingham | Hybrid Working (2 days working from home)
Salary: £85,000 – £92,000 + 12% Pension + Excellent Benefits
Progression: Head of Acquisitions (£100k – £110k+ Package)
Long-Term Programme Security | Major National Infrastructure Programme
Flexible Working – strong work-life balance, no timesheets, and no expectation of long hours

Lead Strategy on Some of the UK’s Most Complex Land & Property Disputes

This is one of the most high-profile compulsory purchase and property disputes opportunities currently available within UK infrastructure.

High Speed Two Ltd is seeking a Disputes Manager to join the Land & Property team, reporting directly to the Head of Acquisitions, taking a leading role in managing complex tribunal strategy, contentious land acquisitions, and high-value compensation disputes across Europe’s largest infrastructure programme.

This is not a traditional estates management role.

You will operate at the centre of some of the UK’s most sensitive and complex compulsory purchase matters, influencing dispute resolution strategy, advising senior stakeholders, and helping prevent cases escalating to Tribunal wherever possible.

The role combines strategic negotiation, compulsory purchase expertise, stakeholder influence, and dispute leadership across a large and politically sensitive infrastructure environment.

Why This Role Stands Out

• Client-side leadership role on one of the UK’s largest infrastructure programmes
• High autonomy with real influence over dispute and tribunal strategy
• Opportunity to shape approaches to complex compulsory purchase matters
• Work directly with senior HS2 leadership, DfT, legal teams, and external Counsel
• Lead strategy across blight, compensation, material detriment, and CPO disputes
• Significant stakeholder engagement across public and private sector organisations
• Long-term programme security with major phases still ahead
• Opportunity to become a recognised expert within infrastructure land acquisition and disputes

The Role

You will take ownership of HS2’s disputes portfolio across active and potential Tribunal cases, helping drive early resolution strategies while supporting the management of contentious compulsory purchase matters.

A major focus of the role is preventing disputes escalating unnecessarily, guiding acquisition teams and suppliers toward commercially sensible negotiated outcomes wherever possible.

You’ll work closely with legal teams, surveyors, case managers, external Counsel, and strategic suppliers to assess risk, shape negotiation strategy, and advise on the most appropriate route for each case.

This is a highly strategic position requiring sound judgement, strong negotiation capability, and the confidence to influence senior stakeholders across HS2 and the Department for Transport.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategy across Tribunal and contentious acquisition cases
• Advise on compulsory purchase, compensation, blight, and material detriment matters
• Develop dispute resolution and settlement strategies
• Work with Legal and Counsel teams to manage live Tribunal cases
• Undertake risk and cost assessments across dispute portfolios
• Influence acquisition teams to proactively resolve disputes before Tribunal
• Coordinate external surveyors, legal advisors, experts, and suppliers
• Deliver Sealed Offers and Calderbank Offers where appropriate
• Support policy development and ADR improvements across the programme
• Provide strategic reporting to senior HS2 leadership and DfT stakeholders

What They’re Looking For

Essential

• Chartered Surveyor (MRICS or equivalent)
• Strong compulsory purchase and land acquisition expertise
• Experience negotiating contentious property matters and compensation claims
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and manage politically sensitive issues
• Strong commercial judgement and dispute resolution capability
• Experience within complex infrastructure, transport, utilities, regeneration, or major projects
• Experience managing suppliers, advisors, and external stakeholders

Highly Desirable

• Tribunal or Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) experience
• Infrastructure land assembly or major programme acquisition experience
• Background within acquiring authorities, private practice, VOA, transport, utilities, or regeneration
• Experience preparing or supporting expert evidence, Select Committees, DCO or TWAO processes

The Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to step into a genuinely influential role where your expertise will directly shape how HS2 manages some of the UK’s most complex compulsory purchase and land disputes.

Whether you are an experienced infrastructure surveyor looking for a strategic client-side role, or a senior professional wanting to bring decades of compulsory purchase expertise into a nationally significant programme, this position offers exceptional visibility, autonomy, and long-term impact.