Principal Planning Lawyer
- Employer
- Sevenoaks District Council
- Location
- Sevenoaks, Kent
- Salary
- £54049 - 57021 per year +
- Closing date
- 15 Oct 2018
View more
- Practice area
- Planning law
- Contract type
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- PQE
- 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, 6 years
- Position
- Solicitor
- Sector
- Public sector/Charities
Job Details
JOB DESCRIPTION
Principal Planning Lawyer
Please note this opportunity is full time or open to job share
Your new organisation
Sevenoaks District Council is a unique place to work. It’s a place where positive and passionate people deliver some of the very best services in local government. They are recognised as one of the most efficient, well managed councils in the country and work hard to maintain this. Much of the District is surrounded by beautiful countryside, but the towns and villages have excellent transport links, good schools and vibrant local economies. The District is 93% Green Belt with 60% Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Planning department is one of the busiest in the County meaning there is a never dull moment and plenty of opportunity to give legal advice on a variety of planning queries.
Your new role
As the Principal Planning Lawyer, you will assist the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to provide a proactive, high-quality legal service primarily to support the Council's development management and strategic planning functions. Working alongside a Planning Solicitor, Trainee Solicitor and the team’s administrator, you will personally provide a full range of specialist legal advice and support on development matters and provide a legal input to development and planning investigation, enforcement and appeal matters. This role will deal with prosecutions and related litigation, appearing as advocate or briefing Counsel as appropriate. You will be responsible for the drafting and negotiation of planning and related agreements as well as handling non-planning regulatory work and litigation as required including environmental health, licensing matters and any judicial reviews.
What you'll need to succeed
You will be an ambitious and highly effective solicitor or barrister with substantial post-qualification experience and a current practising certificate. You will have significant relevant experience of Town and County Planning matters and be looking for a planning and litigation role that supports a Council's development and strategic planning functions. In person you will be credible, proactive, self-motivated and resourceful, customer focused and have the ability to build strong relationships.
What you'll get in return
You will be truly empowered and receive all the support from a high quality legal team. Benefits include; Flexible working hours, 30 days holiday, with five further days holiday after five years Local Government experience, and the opportunity to buy or sell more day’s holiday if you wish. We offer an attractive and secure Local Government Pension Scheme, free car parking, health and wellbeing benefits, as well as a season train ticket loan or car loan, of up to £10,000. The Council has also agreed a range of discounts with many well-known retailers and restaurants, locally and nationally as well as discounts on mobile phones, days out and travel.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV or call me for a confidential conversation.
Company
Working for the Council
We are one of the area's biggest employers with posts in a wide variety of occupations. Staff are based in Sevenoaks and in Sundridge.
Our staff benefits include:
- Free car parking
- Discounted membership at the District's leisure centres
- Flexible annual leave and working arrangements
- A career average pension scheme
- Discounted car loans
- Interest-free travel season ticket
- Excellent training and development opportunities
- We are a member of the Cycle 2 Work to scheme.
Investors in People
We are committed to the development of our staff to improve the services we deliver to the community and we have achieved the Investors in People 'Platinum' status.
Investors in People is a nationally recognised standard awarded to organisations that are committed to supporting the training and development of their staff to achieve their business goal.
We are assessed every three years and have held 'Investor in People' status since 1997.
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