Senior Legal Counsel, Planning

Description

We are looking for a Senior Legal Counsel to work alongside the Head of Legal (Planning) in leading the legal planning strategy for Heathrow’s expansion and wider planning matters, securing complex planning consents and influencing planning policy at local and national levels.  
 

This role will be required to work closely as a trusted advisor with the expansion programme team and with Heathrow’s wider legal, property and operational functions.  The Senior Legal Counsel will be responsible for day-to-day legal consenting (and other) issues, including advising directly and procuring external legal advice where required.  
 

The Senior Legal Counsel will have Development Consent Order (DCO) experience from pre-application through to post consent, including advising on compulsory acquisition; landowners and statutory undertakers; consenting/engagement strategies; environmental impact assessment and Habitats Regulations; DCO application documents and examination strategies; and DCO implementation. 
 

This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role in Heathrow's expansion ambitions and the delivery of one of the UK's most complex and significant infrastructure programmes. 

Responsibilities

• Leading the planning consents and approvals strategy for major infrastructure, expansion and investment programmes, including DCOs, planning applications, appeals, consultations and statutory processes, ensuring successful delivery of complex projects.
• Representing the organisation's interests in planning and infrastructure policy discussions, consultations, studies and reforms, influencing decision-making at local, regional and national levels.
• Building, managing and influencing relationships with key stakeholders, including government departments, consenting authorities, regulatory bodies, industry partners and external organisations.
• Providing leadership and specialist expertise within the legal function, developing team capability, managing budgets and overseeing the delivery of high-quality outcomes.
• Collaborating with internal teams and external partners to align legal consenting activity with business priorities and deliver strategic objectives.
• Acting as a key interface between major programme teams and legal specialists, ensuring legal planning and consenting considerations are effectively integrated into project development and delivery.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor with significant post-qualification experience (typically 6+ years), including a proven track record of leading complex planning and infrastructure consenting matters consented by way of DCO.
• A law degree and/or relevant postgraduate qualification, or equivalent professional experience gained through an alternative qualification route, with a strong focus on planning and infrastructure law.
• In-depth knowledge of the Planning Act 2008 and the DCO regime.
• Experience representing organisations with credibility and confidence in external forums, including committees, stakeholder groups, public meetings and industry events.
• Strong negotiation, influencing and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively across a wide range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence multidisciplinary teams, including the management of external legal advisors, consultants and technical specialists.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex legal and planning matters clearly to a variety of audiences.

Desirable skills:

• In-house experience, preferably in a regulated organisation  
• Experience presenting to Executive Committees, Boards or other senior leadership stakeholder groups.
• Knowledge of planning, infrastructure and aviation-related issues, particularly those affecting major airports or nationally significant infrastructure projects.
• Experience working on large-scale infrastructure, transport or aviation developments within a complex stakeholder environment.