At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex legal projects and ensure smooth delivery of Development Consent Orders.
- Company: Join a top-tier law firm with a commitment to innovation and inclusion.
- Benefits: Flexible working, generous leave, private healthcare, and unique perks like an electric car scheme.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for mentorship and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on significant infrastructure projects while developing your project management skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing Development Consent Orders and strong stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 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 Legal Project Manager in Manchester employer: Pinsent Masons
As a Senior Legal Project Manager at our firm, you will thrive in a dynamic and inclusive work environment that champions professional growth and innovation. With agile working options, generous leave policies, and a commitment to employee well-being, we empower our team members to excel in their roles while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Join us in shaping the future of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, where your expertise will be valued and your contributions recognised.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Legal Project Manager in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those who work in legal project management or related fields. Attend events, webinars, and workshops to make connections that could lead to job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and understanding their projects, especially around Development Consent Orders. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs and how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your project management skills during interviews. Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you've successfully managed complex projects, navigated stakeholder relationships, and delivered results.
✨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, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Legal Project Manager in Manchester
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 in a Senior Legal Project Manager.
Showcase Your Project Management Skills:Don’t forget to emphasise your project management qualifications and experience. We’re keen on seeing how you’ve successfully coordinated complex projects in the past, so share specific examples that demonstrate your expertise.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read, so make sure your key achievements and skills stand out without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role right there!
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 projects. Highlight your ability to coordinate multiple workstreams, manage timelines, and communicate effectively with stakeholders. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Management Expertise
Be ready to discuss how you've navigated complex stakeholder interactions in previous roles. Share examples of how you've facilitated collaboration between different teams and resolved conflicts. This is crucial for the Senior Legal Project Manager position, so make it a focal point in your interview.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about the team dynamics, current challenges in DCO projects, or how they measure success in project delivery. This not only helps you gauge if the role is right for you but also leaves a positive impression on the interviewers.
