Senior Legal Officer

An opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Legal Officer to join the Council’s Legal and Procurement Service. Fast-paced and part of a high performing team, this is an excellent opportunity for you to join us and develop your career, knowledge and experience within this area of law. If successful, you will be stepping into a role central to advising on complex planning and highways matters while supporting wider corporate objectives.

The role will entail transactional and advisory work, including but not limited to, s.106 agreements, planning enforcement, development management and policy.  Development in the team’s other areas of practice such as  highways, traffic, rights of way and will be expected, supported and encouraged.

Who are we looking for?

Working under the direction of the Place Team Leader, the role will suit a detailed, focused, enthusiastic Senior Legal Officer who has the dynamism to handle a busy and challenging caseload. You will need strong drafting, negotiating and advisory skills and competence with IT and case management systems and an enabling, positive approach to finding solutions to complex problems as well as the ability to anticipate and adapt to business and client needs and to appreciate risk management issues, working flexibly across a multi-skilled team.

When applying you will be asked to write a personal statement, which should include/ demonstrate the following:

• Successful completion of a law degree or Level 3 CILEX or relevant legal office based experience or equivalent
• Understanding of the law relating to Planning and experience of successfully managing a busy planning caseload.
• Experience of dealing with s106 planning and associated agreements.
• Experience of working with senior officers, including attendance at relevant meetings.
• Providing legal advice across Town and Country Planning, Highway Law (including footpaths) and Compulsory Purchase.
• Knowledge and understanding of local government and administrative law.

If you feel you have the necessary background, experience and skills to undertake this role we would like to hear from you. Please contact the Place Team Manager (Rob Parkes) on 07566 253043 or the Head of Legal and Procurement Services (Oluremi Aremu) on 02476 972070 if you wish to have an informal discussion about this exciting role.

We recognise that you might use AI tools to help with your application. While these tools can be useful, please make sure that all information you provide about your experience, skills, and qualifications is accurate. What matters most to us is hearing about your experience and the achievements that truly reflect you!

Need help completing your application form? The Job Shop can support you. You can register online here for an initial assessment, or visit the Job Shop in person, please see their webpage for more information. For all other queries, contact Recruitment@coventry.gov.uk

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'.