Senior Legal Counsel, Planning

Introduction

Heathrow is a city within a city – a complex ecosystem that provides an astonishing variety of high profile, absorbing work. From helping protect the data on which the safety of millions of passengers depends, to negotiating licenses for airlines and drafting leases for hundreds of shops and restaurants, there are opportunities for interesting, inspiring work at every turn. Not least in mitigating and managing risk in the wider aviation industry to ensure generations to come can enjoy the freedom and excitement of air travel.

Job 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.

Your role will involve

• 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.

These Skills Are Essential

• Qualified Solicitor with significant post‑qualification experience (typically six years or more), including a strong track record of leading complex planning and infrastructure consenting matters through the Development Consent Order (DCO) process.
• A law degree and/or relevant postgraduate qualification, or equivalent professional experience gained through an alternative qualification route, with expertise in planning and infrastructure law.
• In‑depth knowledge of the Planning Act 2008, the DCO regime, and the wider planning and consenting framework for major infrastructure projects.
• Experience representing organisations in external forums and engaging effectively with stakeholders, including committees, public bodies, industry groups, and community representatives.
• Strong negotiation, influencing, and relationship‑management skills, with the ability to build effective partnerships across a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage external legal advisers, consultants, and technical specialists, combined with excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.

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.

About Us

There’s something so special about working at the world’s most iconic airport. Its sights. Its sounds. Its constant air of excitement.

Heathrow is an amazing backdrop to a career filled with unique opportunities.

Every day, you’ll discover a world full of fresh possibilities and end the day buzzing with stories to tell, as you encounter people from all cultures, nationalities and experiences. A world full of pride for what we do and no end of exciting career prospects to explore.

It brings out the best in all of us. And inspires everyone to deliver on our ambitious plans. Together, we’re working to welcome millions more passengers while ensuring aviation can continue to be a force for good by leading global efforts in sustainability.

Join us on that journey and we'll help you achieve your ambitions too. Supporting you to learn, encouraging you to be yourself, backing you to achieve more than you might ever have imagined. Because there’s no place like Heathrow.

Our rewards

We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits that will support you now and in the future. As well as performance‑based annual bonuses and our longer‑term Share in Success Bonus plans, we also offer generous annual leave allowances and market‑leading pensions. With family friendly policies, access to private health insurance and a wide range of wellbeing tools, we’ll support you to be at your best inside and outside work. And of course, we’ll provide varied learning and development opportunities too. Here you’ll find everything you need for a fulfilling career journey that can take you in exciting directions.

Working Location

Our Hybrid working approach offers the opportunity for colleagues in some roles to work from home for an average of two days a week, providing the flexibility to work in an agile way whilst ensuring we deliver for the operational needs of Heathrow. Working arrangements vary from team to team and will be confirmed during the recruitment process. You’ll need to be based in the UK and within a commutable distance to Heathrow.

Sustainable Travel to work

Heathrow’s Sustainable Travel Guide sets out easy and sustainable travel options that everyone can access.

Equal Opportunities

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all. We believe that diverse talent makes us stronger – not least because we welcome passengers from all corners of the globe, every single day. Heathrow is an accessible place to work. With five diversity networks, we champion inclusivity and celebrate individuality.