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- Tasks: Lead complex projects in infrastructure planning and ensure smooth project delivery.
- Company: Join a top-tier law firm with a commitment to innovation and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and unique perks like an electric car scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on significant infrastructure projects while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management and a strong understanding of the Planning Act 2008.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values your unique perspective and promotes growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Locations: 55 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2FG, GB; Capital Square, Edinburgh, EH3 8BP, GB; 141 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, G2 7EQ, GB; 1 Park Row, Leeds, LS1 5AB, GB; 30 Crown Place, London, EC2A 4ES, GB; 1 St Michaels, Manchester, M2 5AE, GB
Job Schedule: Full time
Contact Name: Victoria Greaves
Contact Email: careers@pinsentmasons.com
12 Month Fixed Term Contract - Any UK Office
The Opportunity: 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.
What You’ll Do:
- Project Coordination & Delivery: 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.
- Governance, Meetings & Communication: 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.
- Stakeholder Management & Process Navigation: 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.
- Broader Team & Organisational Support: 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. 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. A strong understanding of the Planning Act 2008, the NSIP regime and DCO process. 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. The 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%). Access to benefits including an electric car scheme, cycle‑to‑work scheme, and interest‑free loans for season tickets, gym membership, or rental deposits.
Next Steps: Once you apply, our Recruitment team will review your application and keep you updated by email. The interview process typically consists of two stages.
Our Commitment to Inclusion: We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer, a top Stonewall employer, and a signatory to multiple inclusion charters. We value diverse perspectives and encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work. If you’d like an informal conversation about the role, an alternative format of this advert, or to discuss reasonable adjustments, please contact Victoria Greaves at careers@pinsentmasons.com.
Senior Project Manager, DCO in Birmingham employer: Pinsent Masons LLP
Contact Detail:
Pinsent Masons LLP Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Project Manager, DCO in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their projects, and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. We want you to walk in feeling confident and ready to impress!
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. We recommend mentioning something specific from the interview to keep you fresh in their minds.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Project Manager, DCO in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Project Manager role. Highlight your experience with Development Consent Orders and project management, showing us how you fit the bill!
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your skills—give us examples! Talk about your experience coordinating complex projects and managing stakeholders. We want to see how you've tackled challenges in the past.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pinsent Masons LLP
✨Know Your DCO Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the Development Consent Order (DCO) process and the Planning Act 2008. Brush up on key stages, timelines, and any recent changes in legislation that could impact your role. This will show your interviewers that you're not just familiar with the basics but are genuinely invested in the specifics of the job.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Prepare to discuss your experience with multi-workstream projects. Have examples ready that highlight your ability to coordinate complex tasks, manage competing priorities, and ensure all stakeholders are aligned. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Since this role involves a lot of communication across various teams, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Be prepared to explain how you would facilitate meetings and ensure everyone is on the same page. Good communication skills can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Mindset
Think of specific challenges you've faced in previous projects and how you overcame them. Highlight your proactive approach to identifying risks and issues, and be ready to discuss how you would apply this mindset to the DCO lifecycle. This will show that you’re not just reactive but also strategic in your thinking.