Senior Planning and Environment Solicitor

North yorkshire county council; Northallerton; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Discounts and perks

Volunteering leave

Job summary

North Yorkshire Council is seeking a Senior Planning and Environment Solicitor to lead the Planning, Highways and Environmental law work within the Legal Service. You will manage a small team, advise Officers and Councillors, and represent the Council on committees and in inquiries.

The role offers a permanent contract with 37 hours per week (full or part-time) and hybrid working, plus a comprehensive rewards package including pension benefits and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Experience in planning, highways and environmental law.
• Ability to provide clear legal advice on complex issues.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to engage with officers, councillors and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a small team within the Property Planning and Environment group.
• Advise Officers and Councillors on planning, highway and environmental matters.
• Represent the Council at Planning, Executive and other Committee meetings and inquiries.
• Engage with rights of way, village greens and waste-related matters as required.

Skills

Planning law

Environmental law

Legal analysis

Communication

Team management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Qualified solicitor/barrister/CILEX

Job description

Salary: £53,051 to £57,372 pro rata, per annum

Grade: N

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full Time or Part Time, 37 hours per week

Location: Northallerton, North Yorkshire

Are you ready for the next stage of your career?

We are currently looking to recruit an ambitious and forward-thinking individual to work as a Senior Planning and Environment Solicitor within our successful legal service here at North Yorkshire Council.

If you have the relevant skills, drive and ambition to succeed, we want to hear from you!

About the team...

The Legal Service is part of Legal and Democratic Services ('LDS') within the Chief Executive's Group. North Yorkshire Council provides a range of services to North Yorkshire, and the role of the Legal Service is to support that provision by providing a comprehensive and efficient legal service to the Directorates, the Council's Executive, full Council, Committees and Members, and external clients. The nature of the work requires a flexible and versatile approach as it will change from time to time in response to the changing needs of the Council, and its developing initiatives. The postholder is required to work with colleagues and Members at every level within the organisation and with external clients and partners.

When taking up the post the postholder must hold a qualification as a Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX.

The role

The main focus of the role is planning, highways and a range of environmental law. You will lead and manage a small team within the wider Property Planning and Environment team, support and represent the Assistant Chief Executive, Assistant Director or Head of Legal on boards, project teams and at Committee; advise Officers and Councillors on a wide range of planning, highway and environmental issues and will attend at Planning, Executive and other Council Committees as required.

You will also get involved with work relating to public rights of way and common land and village greens and waste as well as attending at Court and Inquiries as part of your role.

You will

• Be part of a friendly and supportive team of professionals
• Have the opportunity work on high profile cases and to learn and develop in other disciplines within our service
• Have the ability to communicate effectively in orally and in writing to suit a range of audiences
• Have responsibility for your own caseload and be able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Have experience of managing specialist professionals

What you can bring

• Experience in Planning and Environmental Law
• Strong research and legal analysis skills
• The ability to provide clear legal advice on complex issues
• A collaborative mindset with the ability to work well in a team environment
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Have experience of managing specialist professionals

We welcome applications from anyone qualified and looking for a new and interesting challenge.

What We Offer You

• A supportive, professional team environment where you'll grow your career.
• We offer hybrid working with the option to work from home and flexible hours, helping you achieve a healthy work-life balance.
• We're committed to your growth, offering continuous learning, career progression opportunities, and financial support for additional qualifications.
• We recognise the importance of family time and well-being, offering generous leave and additional benefits like paid volunteering leave.
• Enjoy the security of a robust pension plan designed for your future.
• Take advantage of our employee benefits scheme which includes discounts on shopping, home tech, green car schemes, and more!

You will also have access to a range of benefits such as a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working, excellent pension scheme, salary sacrifice car, cycle, technology and childcare schemes and a package of 'Everybody Benefits' shopping vouchers, discounts and more.

Please see our total rewards brochure for more information.

Contact

For an informal discussion regarding the role please contact Catriona Gatrell, Head of Legal Property Planning and Environment [e-mail]

Key Documents

Job Description

Total Rewards brochure

Key Dates

Closing Date: 14th September

Shortlisting: 15th September

Interviews: Week Commencing 21st September

NYC are committed to directly recruiting staff and will not accept applications nor services from agency suppliers in respect of our vacancies.

We are committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

North Yorkshire Councils' purpose is to deliver services and facilities to the diverse residents and visitors of North Yorkshire. To ensure we deliver inclusive services we strive to have a diverse workforce where everybody can be themselves by respecting differences and embedding equality of opportunity. We celebrate diversity and recognise each other's contributions; we therefore welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.