At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage complex legal projects and guide teams through the Development Consent Order lifecycle.
- Company: Join a leading firm in Infrastructure Planning with a collaborative environment.
- Benefits: Agile working, generous leave, private healthcare, and pension contributions.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and mentoring junior project managers.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on significant infrastructure projects while developing your project management skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in Development Consent Orders and strong project management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a Senior Legal Project Manager (DCO) to join our Legal Project Management (LPM) team, working closely with our market‑leading Infrastructure Planning practice on complex Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). This role focuses on the end‑to‑end project management of the Development Consent Order (DCO) lifecycle, from pre‑application through examination and, where required, post‑examination activity. You’ll play a critical role in guiding clients and internal teams through the Planning Act 2008 regime, ensuring delivery is structured, compliant and well‑governed throughout. Please note, this is a 12 month fixed‑term contract with potential to become permanent in the future.
What You’ll Do
- Support the strategic planning and day‑to‑day coordination of DCO/NSIP matters, ensuring that timelines, examination deadlines, key activities and dependencies are accurately maintained and communicated.
- Facilitate the delivery of all workstreams by organising inputs, monitoring progress, and ensuring legal teams and workstreams remain aligned to the agreed programme.
- Maintain robust control, including project plans, action logs, risk and issue registers, and specifically designed DCO‑reporting tools.
- Track changes in project timelines, resource needs, risks and deliverables, escalating impacts to client.
- Arrange and manage governance forums including Kick‑Off Meetings, Project Team Meetings and various Workshops as needed. Prepare agendas and ensure actions are captured, assigned and followed through.
- Provide clear, consistent communication across project teams, clients, Counsel and external consultants—ensuring all parties understand what is required and by when.
- Apply advanced stakeholder management skills to coordinate complex interactions across legal teams, planning specialists, environmental consultants and client organisations.
- Guide project teams through the procedural demands of the Planning Act 2008 and the DCO examination process, ensuring deadlines and statutory requirements remain front‑of‑mind.
- Promote collaboration between all workstreams and support issue resolution through proactive engagement and cross‑team communication.
- Identify programme‑level risks and issues, ensuring they are captured, assessed, monitored and escalated appropriately.
- Contribute to post‑project reviews and lessons learned exercises, feeding improvements back into the DCO PMO and wider LPM processes.
- Support the development and enhancement of project templates, trackers, tools and standard operating procedures for DCO matters.
- Promote lean working practices and process efficiencies to improve the consistency and quality of DCO project delivery.
- Identify improvement opportunities and support ongoing innovation within the Infrastructure Planning team.
- Collaborate with pricing and legal teams by providing delivery insights needed to support client proposals and matter initiation.
- Support large bids and tenders where DCO project management expertise is required.
- Mentor more junior project managers.
- Provide general project management support across other teams/matters where required, while maintaining a primary focus on the DCO portfolio.
About You
- Demonstrable experience delivering key stages of Development Consent Orders.
- Experience coordinating complex, multi‑workstream and multi‑organisation projects.
- Strong understanding of the Planning Act 2008, the NSIP regime and DCO process.
- Project management qualification (desirable).
- Excellent planning, coordination, communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Confidence using Microsoft Office tools including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, SharePoint and Copilot.
- Commercial awareness, sound judgement and a proactive, problem‑solving mindset.
- Ability to challenge constructively and question assumptions.
- Resilience, flexibility and comfort working with limited supervision.
- Sensitivity to cultural differences across project teams.
What We Offer
- Agile working options, including home working.
- Carers’ leave of up to five paid days.
- 25 days’ annual leave, with the option to buy or carry over up to five additional days.
- Contributory pension (up to 5%).
- Private healthcare and death in service cover (4× salary).
- Access to benefits including electric car scheme, cycle‑to‑work scheme and interest‑free loans for season tickets, gym membership or rental deposits.
Senior Legal Project Manager, DCO employer: DVF Recruitment
As a Senior Legal Project Manager at our firm, you will thrive in a dynamic and supportive work environment that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With agile working options, generous leave policies, and a commitment to innovation, we empower our team members to excel in their roles while contributing to impactful Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. Join us to be part of a collaborative culture that values your expertise and fosters continuous development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Legal Project Manager, DCO
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the legal and project management fields. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet potential employers or colleagues. Remember, it’s all about who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Familiarise yourself with the Planning Act 2008 and DCO processes. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re the one they need for their NSIP projects!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! You’ll need to convey complex information clearly and confidently. Consider mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your approach and get feedback.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Legal Project Manager, DCO
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with Development Consent Orders and the Planning Act 2008. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant projects you've managed!
Showcase Your Project Management Skills:Since this role is all about managing complex projects, be sure to emphasise your project management qualifications and any tools you’ve used. We love seeing examples of how you've kept projects on track and communicated effectively with stakeholders.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and get straight to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that make it easy for us to see your qualifications and experience at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about what we do at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at DVF Recruitment
✨Know Your DCO Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the Development Consent Order (DCO) lifecycle and the Planning Act 2008. Brush up on key stages, processes, and any recent changes in legislation. This will not only show your expertise but also demonstrate your commitment to the role.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Prepare specific examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed complex projects. Highlight your ability to coordinate multiple workstreams and how you’ve maintained timelines and communication across teams. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Engage with Stakeholder Management
Be ready to discuss your approach to stakeholder management. Think of instances where you’ve navigated complex interactions and resolved issues effectively. Emphasise your communication skills and how you ensure all parties are aligned and informed throughout the project.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Mindset
Prepare to talk about challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you tackled them. Show that you can think critically and adapt to changing circumstances, especially in high-pressure situations. This will highlight your resilience and proactive approach, which are crucial for this position.
