Principal Lawyer (Physical Infrastructure)

Grade 11 £54,205 - £57,863 (Bar at £56,684) per annum pro rata

Permanent, Full time, Flexible / Hybrid working

Closing date: 02 Apr 2025

Join Our Dynamic Regeneration Legal Team
Our Regeneration Legal Group spearheads the complex negotiation, drafting and delivery of the planning, property and regeneration work that makes this revolution happen. We’re now expanding the team to deliver on the Council’s ambitious strategy: Investing in Success: An Economic Strategy for Manchester.

Can you bring us the legal knowledge, experience, agility and innovation we need to get this done?

We are expanding our Regeneration Legal Group to support Manchester’s strategy  – blending property, planning, and regeneration work to create the vibrant future we all envision.

We are recruiting a range of lawyers to help us to continue to deliver the Council’s ambition and to build positive working relationships with colleagues and clients.

In this role you will:

• Work as a lawyer in the Physical Infrastructure Team and have the chance to do some of the most high profile and interesting work in the city and the region. Acting for Manchester Council, Salford Council and the GMCA, you will advise on major regeneration projects that impact and shape cities, communities and environments.
• Work with public and private sector partners, and be involved in the delivery of town centre redevelopments, major residential, social housing and student accommodation schemes, commercial developments, infrastructure and transport projects, and the building and management of health and leisure centres, community hubs and schools and colleges.
• Take the lead on major developments from the outset, provide strategic advice, identify issues and offer solutions, advise on all aspects of planning law and policy, compulsory purchase, judicial review, planning enforcement, statutory consents, committee and executive reports, as well as a range of highways issues and other land designation issues, including the drafting and negotiation of related legal documentation.
• Work efficiently and under pressure, delivery complex high profile work to demanding deadlines
• Work closely with lawyers in the wider Regeneration group as a multi-disciplinary team on property, construction, procurement and subsidy, funding and tax matters.
• Lead, manage and supervise a team of lawyers, developing their skills and expertise
• Devise and deliver on training and development programmes and actively contribute to the professional development of the service
• Work flexibly to support the needs of the Physical Infrastructure team and the wider Regeneration Group.
• Assist the Group Leader (Physical Infrastructure) on the management, development and direction of the Physical Infrastructure team.

About the Candidate

We would love to hear from you if you have significant experience and knowledge in a number of the following areas:

• Advising on complex and/or high profile planning and regeneration matters, including reviewing and advising on Committee and Executive reports, and attending and advising Committees including Planning Committee
• Drafting, negotiating and delivery of the contractual arrangements around planning and related matters, including planning obligations, conservation covenants and related contracts.
• Advising on and/or representing clients at Judicial Reviews/Statutory Challenges and Planning Appeals including on Enforcement matters
• Compulsory Purchase
• Management and supervision of a team of lawyers

Prior in-house local government experience not essential

For more information and to apply please visit Principal Lawyer (Physical Infrastructure) in Town Hall Extension, Albert Square, Manchester, M60 2LA - Manchester City Council