Environment & Planning Solicitor

Southern Water; Worthing; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water utility provider in Worthing is seeking a qualified lawyer specializing in environmental and planning law. You will provide high-quality legal advice, manage risks, and draft legal documents while collaborating across various functions. The role offers a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and benefits including a generous pension and annual leave. Join a company committed to legal excellence and career development opportunities.

Benefits

Generous pension up to 11% company contribution

25 days annual leave

Life assurance equal to 4x salary

Health Cash Plan

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• 3+ years post-qualification experience in Environmental and Planning Law.
• Previous experience with environmental and planning issues.
• Ability to work proactively across various departments.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality legal advice on environmental issues.
• Draft complex legal documents accurately.
• Identify and manage legal risks for the company.

Skills

Environmental and Planning Law

Legal advice analysis

Risk management

Negotiation

Self-starter

Education

Qualified lawyer (Solicitor/Barrister/Chartered Legal Executive)

Job description

There has never been a better time to join our organisation as we build towards a greener future, tackling climate change, minimising our environmental impact and reducing our carbon footprint!

Job Overview

To provide high quality environmental legal services to Southern Water to enable delivery of various capital, operational and infrastructure programmes, particularly those matters relating to AMP8 (and future AMPs) and company turnaround projects.

• Provide focused accurate, effective and timely legal advice, analysis and support to the relevant business function on environmental and planning issues to enable the business function to meet and manage its objectives.
• Provide advice in a clear, useable way enabling others (at whatever level in the business) to immediately understand key facts and issues.
• Identify areas of risk for the Company in relation to environmental, planning and regulatory matters and either directly provide or work with others to implement solutions to manage these risks.
• Stay abreast of legal developments in order to identify the potential impact on the company.
• Prepare and undertake negotiations on behalf of the company.
• Draft complex legal documents quickly and accurately.

About You

• Qualified lawyer (Solicitor/Barrister/Chartered Legal Executive) with, ideally, 3 + years relevant post-qualification experience in Environmental and Planning Law.
• Previous experience working on environment and planning issues required.
• Self starter with ability to work as part of a team and to work pro-actively across and with a number of other functions.
• Knowledge of law, court procedures and legal precedents.
• To provide advice in a clear, useable way enabling others (at whatever level in the business) to immediately understand key facts and issues.
• To identify areas of risk for the Company in relation to environmental, planning and regulatory matters and either directly provide or work with others to implement solutions to manage these risks.
• Commercial Effectiveness and Business Expertise.

Package

This role will be full time Monday to Friday with a hybrid approach to working between our Worthing office and home. We are offering a competitive salary, depending on skills and experience as well as other benefits including:

• Generous pension up to 11% company contribution
• 25 days annual leave
• Life assurance equal to 4x salary
• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months service)
• Health Cash Plan
• Full funded eye tests
• Two paid volunteering days a year
• Occupational health service
• Discounts with over 800 popular retailers
• Digital GP service
• Study support may be available for job-related qualifications
• Competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work options
• Cycle to work scheme

Join our Legal team and see how far your career could progress with a company committed to career progression, training and development opportunities, our customers and the environment.