Planning Associate (NQ-2PQE) - Manchester/ Sheffield

Our Tier 1 ranked Planning team is looking for an an enthusiastic associate to support our work consenting some of the largest and most significant development and energy & infrastructure projects in the UK.

About us

CMS is a Future Facing firm with more than 80 offices in over 45 countries and 5,800+ lawyers worldwide. We combine deep local market understanding with a global perspective. We are passionate about building strong relationships with our clients, our people, and the communities we work in.

We take a bold, dynamic, and agile approach to ensure our clients are able to face the future with confidence. We are driven by emerging technologies such as generative AI and readily embrace the possibilities it opens up for developing new and better ways of working.  Our aim is to inspire, impact and support our clients and our people, helping them to maximize their potential and thrive.

About the role

You will be part of a growing and dynamic team that carries out a diverse mix of work and have a good degree of responsibility, with oversight from partners with national recognition for their expertise, providing an excellent opportunity for development and experience. 
   
You will be supporting partners and more senior associates in the Planning practice advising on planning for major developments, including initial strategy and application review, statutory agreements, CIL, planning appeals and call-ins and judicial reviews. You will have the opportunity to work on projects in all sectors, including all forms of housing, offices, retail, data centres and logistics, and to work in our highly rated energy and infrastructure consenting practice work. The role will involve regularly working with colleagues across the firm, including in the wider market-leading Real Estate and Energy teams as part of dedicated client and sector teams. The team acts for some of the largest investors, developers, occupiers and land-owners.
The team operates on a UK basis, and the opportunity can be tailored to suit the right candidate. 

About you

We will invest in your ongoing training and development to support your professional goals and help you to thrive in your role from day one. Our opportunities are open to all suitably qualified applicants, so to be considered for this role, you must meet the following skills and experience: 

You will:

• Be a qualified solicitor, ideally between NQ-2PQE.
• Be able to demonstrate an interest in, and enthusiasm for, development planning and wider consenting
• Have gained good experience in a recognized planning team, with strong regeneration and redevelopment experience beneficial
• Have excellent written and oral communication skills
• Have a strong academic background
• Demonstrate the ambition to succeed
• Understand the importance of and have a commitment to business development and client relationship management
• Be commercially orientated with a commitment to innovation
• Have the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Be well-organised with strong administration and time management skills and the ability and drive to meet demanding deadlines.

What’s in it for you?

We want to reward you today and help you plan for tomorrow. We appreciate that everyone is different, therefore we have designed a benefits system that offers choice and flexibility based on individual needs and lifestyles. To name a few, these include:

•    Competitive basic salary (reviewed annually)
•    Flexible, hybrid working policy
•    Generous bonus scheme
•    Up to 25 days holiday (rising to 28 days with service)
•    Holiday exchange scheme
•    Private medical insurance
•    Enhanced parental leave
•    Reasonable adjustments and accommodation for disabled talent in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

If you would like to read more information regarding our range of benefits, please visit our Rewards & Benefits page on our website.

Equal opportunities

At CMS, we place diversity and inclusion at the centre of our culture and the heart of our organisation. As a firm we recognise, celebrate, and embrace the diverse talent our society has to offer because we know that to solve big problems, we need the best and brightest minds available to us.  In support of this goal, we commit to actively breaking down barriers which stand in the way of those from diverse backgrounds and play our part in levelling the playing field. 
 
As a Future Facing Firm, we strongly believe that a career in law should be open to people from all walks of life, because not only does diversity of thought and experience make our firm a stronger and more sustainable business, but it also makes it a more rewarding place to work.
 
When recruiting, we prioritise attracting talented people and we actively promote a flexible working environment which enables all our team members to thrive. If you see a role you are interested in, but don’t feel you meet 100% of the criteria we encourage you to still consider making an application. We also welcome applications from those who may be looking to return to the workforce after a career break. 
 
We are proud to say our leadership in creating an inclusive working culture has been celebrated and recognised externally, including being listed for a number of years in the Times Top 50 Employers for Women and the Social Mobility Index.
 
We are a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer, and we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities, whether visible or invisible. We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity throughout our recruitment process and in every element of the employee life cycle. If you require assistance, or if you would like to discuss any accessibility requirements or adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please contact Steve Paine at TalentAcquisition@cms-cmno.com who will be happy to support you.

Ready to apply? Here are the next steps.

We look forward to receiving your application online via the CMS careers site. Please contact our Talent Acquisition team if you have any questions. 

Please note that we have a preferred agency panel in place. Only applications submitted via the portal at the point of instruction will be accepted.

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