Senior Lawyer - FCRM Planning - 11474

1
National
Various
Staff Grade 6
Permanent
Legal Services
£44,477 (pro-rata)
We’re looking for an experienced lawyer to join our team, providing specialist and strategic legal advice to the Environment Agency in its role managing flooding and coastal change.

You will advise on a broad spectrum of operational and policy issues connected to flooding and coastal change, for example issues of environmental, contractual, public and administrative law. Your advice will underpin the Environment Agency’s risk-based decision-making and support its delivery of environmental and flood risk outcomes. For candidates with the right skills, there may also be opportunities to become involved in the team’s planning casework.

This varied and challenging workload includes helping clients influence new legislation, develop national positions, advice and guidance, regulate activities posing a risk of flooding, and draft agreements and other legal documentation. You will be required to advise senior staff, up to Board level, on issues of national significance and help represent the Environment Agency’s interests with Government to influence the design, development and implementation of policy and legislation.
Our in-house flood risk and planning legal team forms part of the Environment Agency’s National legal service. It works closely with other specialist lawyers in the wider National team and with legal colleagues in our Area teams working on flood risk and planning matters. It advises clients on the implications of relevant laws and policies and supports the Environment Agency in the delivery of flood risk projects.
The post holder will be a fully qualified lawyer (solicitor, barrister or legal executive), with a solid track record of handling complex technical issues. You will have experience advising on commercial, environmental or public/administrative law. Experience of planning law would also be advantageous.

You will have the capacity to rapidly get up to speed to advise on new areas of law. You will also need to demonstrate that you are confident and credible, able to combine first-class communication skills with strong analytical skills and an up-to-date understanding of one or more of the areas of law and practice identified above. You will have a solid track record of influencing and persuading people at all levels, with the ability to interpret the law to a variety of clients and stakeholders.
The team works primarily on national strategic issues. Recent examples include updating the National Floods Strategy, round 2 of Flood Risk Management Planning and piloting natural flood management and ‘main river’ rationalisation initiatives. It supports legal colleagues in their advice upon the delivery of flood alleviation schemes under the Environment Agency’s 6 year capital programme.
The team also advises the Environment Agency on its roles within the planning system, in particular concerning new planning policy and acting as an interested party in examinations of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

For further information please contact Peter Ashford (peter.ashford@environment-agency.gov.uk).

28/07/2019, 23:55 hours

Basic Check
Achieves Results
Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets.
Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.
Focuses on Customers and Partners
Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses.
Legislative Knowledge
Demonstrates a sound understanding of the law relating to flooding and coastal change in some or all of the areas identified in the job description. Able to apply legal expertise to provide clear, risk-based advice that enhances and protects the interests and integrity of the Environment Agency.
Practicing Certificate.
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

This Vacancy is closed to applications.