Senior Planning and Environment Solicitor

North Yorkshire Council; Thirsk; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Flexible working

Excellent pension scheme

Job summary

North Yorkshire Council is seeking a Senior Planning and Environment Solicitor to lead the Planning, Highways and Environmental practice within the Legal Service. You will work within a supportive team and contribute to high‑profile cases and policy development.

You will manage a small team, advise Directors, Officers and Councillors on a broad range of planning and environmental matters, attend committees, and develop strategic solutions while ensuring high standards of professional service.

Qualifications

• Must hold qualification as Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX.
• Experience in planning, highways or environmental law preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Planning, Highways and Environmental practice within the Legal Service.
• Advise Officers and Councillors on a wide range of planning and environmental issues.
• Represent the Council on boards, committees and at inquiries.

Skills

Planning Law

Environmental Law

Team Leadership

Education

Qualified 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, Total Rewards Brochure
• 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

Using AI? Please follow our guidance to ensure your application reflects your own knowledge and experience:

Enhanced Level DBS Disclosure is required for appointment to this post.

It is a criminal offence for people who are barred from working in Regulated Activity (under the Safeguarding and Vulnerable Groups Act 2006) to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with adults at risk.

We are committed to the inclusion, safeguarding, and promoting the welfare of adults at risk.

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.

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

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.