Senior Planning and Environment Solicitor

North Yorkshire Council; Northallerton; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Generous annual leave

Pension scheme

Salary sacrifice schemes

Job summary

North Yorkshire Council is seeking a Senior Planning and Environment Solicitor to lead a small team within the Legal Service. The role focuses on planning, highways and environmental law, advising Officers and Councillors, and representing the Council at committees, courts and inquiries.

The postholder will manage a caseload and develop expertise across disciplines. Qualified solicitors, barristers or CILEX with leadership experience are preferred.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor, barrister or CILEX with eligibility to practice.
• Experience advising Officers and Councillors on planning, highways and environmental issues.
• Ability to lead and manage a small team within a wider legal service.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Property Planning and Environment team within the Legal Service.
• Advise Officers and Councillors on a wide range of planning, highway and environmental matters.
• Represent the Council at Planning, Executive and other Council Committees, and at Court and Inquiries.
• Manage own caseload with minimal supervision; supervise specialist professionals.

Skills

Team leadership

Oral & written communication

Caseload management

Education

Solicitor

Barrister

CILEX

Job description

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

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

What we can offer

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.

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

Key Dates:

Closing Date: 15 November

Shortlisting: 16 September

Interviews: W/C 23 November