At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex infrastructure projects and ensure smooth project delivery from start to finish.
- Company: Join a top-tier legal firm known for its innovative approach and inclusive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, private healthcare, and unique perks like an electric car scheme.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values your unique perspective and promotes career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on significant national projects while developing your project management skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing Development Consent Orders and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
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. Contract: 12‑month fixed‑term, any UK office, with potential to become permanent.
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.
- Risk, Issues & Programme Assurance: 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.
- Tools, Innovation & Continuous Improvement: 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. 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.
- A strong understanding of the Planning Act 2008, the NSIP regime and DCO process.
- A 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.
- 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%).
- Private healthcare and death‑in‑service cover (4x salary).
- 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.
Contact
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 Leeds employer: Pinsent Masons
Pinsent Masons is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work culture in the heart of London. As a Restructuring Associate, you will benefit from unparalleled exposure to high-impact transactions while enjoying flexible working arrangements and robust professional development opportunities. Join a team that values your expertise and fosters your growth in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Project Manager, DCO in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. The more people know you’re on the hunt, the better your chances of landing that Senior Project Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their approach to DCOs and NSIPs, and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. We want you to shine when it’s your turn to talk!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your project management skills during interviews. Bring examples of how you’ve successfully coordinated complex projects, managed stakeholders, and navigated regulatory processes. We love hearing about real-life experiences!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for the role. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Project Manager, DCO in Leeds
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 what we’re looking for, so don’t hold back!
Showcase Your Project Management Skills:In your application, emphasise your project management qualifications and any relevant experience coordinating complex projects. We love seeing examples of how you’ve successfully managed timelines and stakeholder communications.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your key achievements and skills. Clarity is key!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pinsent Masons
✨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, multi-workstream projects. Highlight your ability to coordinate teams, manage timelines, and ensure compliance with statutory requirements. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Be ready to discuss how you've effectively managed stakeholder relationships in previous roles. Think about times when you facilitated communication between different teams or resolved conflicts. This is crucial for the Senior Project Manager role, so come armed with examples that showcase your advanced stakeholder management skills.
✨Demonstrate Continuous Improvement Mindset
Talk about how you've contributed to process improvements in your previous projects. Whether it's developing new templates or promoting lean practices, showing that you're proactive about enhancing project delivery will resonate well with the interviewers. They want someone who can bring innovation to their Infrastructure Planning team.
