"This is Manchester – We Do Things Differently Here."
Manchester is a city that has reinvented itself time and again, leading change, and creating innovative solutions to complex challenges. It is building a diverse, vibrant and creative city, reimagining urban living, working, and leisure

Join Our Dynamic Regeneration Legal Team
Our Regeneration Legal Group spearheads the complex negotiation, drafting and delivery of the planning, property and regeneration work that makes this revolution happen. We’re now expanding the team to deliver on the Council’s ambitious strategy: Investing in Success: An Economic Strategy for Manchester.

Can you bring us the legal knowledge, experience, agility and innovation we need to get this done?

We are expanding our Regeneration Legal Group to support Manchester’s strategy  – blending property, planning, and regeneration work to create the vibrant future we all envision.

We are recruiting a range of lawyers to help us to continue to deliver the Council’s ambition and to build positive working relationships with colleagues and clients.

For an informal discussion, please contact Robert Irvine at 07760 326672 or robert.irvine@manchester.gov.uk.

We would love to hear from you if you have significant experience and knowledge in a number of the following areas:

• Advising on complex and/or high profile planning and regeneration matters, including reviewing and advising on Committee and Executive reports, and attending and advising Committees including Planning Committee
• Drafting, negotiating and delivery of the contractual arrangements around planning and related matters, including planning obligations, conservation covenants and related contracts.
• Advising on and/or representing clients at Judicial Reviews/Statutory Challenges and Planning Appeals including on Enforcement matters
• Compulsory Purchase
• Management and supervision of a team of lawyers
• Prior in-house local government experience not essential

Join Us and Make Your Mark

Be part of Manchester’s ambitious regeneration journey. Let’s build something remarkable together.

About Us
We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

Generous holiday allowance

Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.

A buzzing pension

You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.

Enhanced parental and carers leave

Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your newborn or support your family during critical life events.

Brilliant perks

Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.

Learn and grow

We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.

A Good Employment Charter member

We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.

Up to 3 days volunteering leave

Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council
At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition

When You Join Us
We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email jobs@manchester.gov.uk.

What we will need from you if you’re successful
In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Checks
If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
• References: We’ll request references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications: Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other relevant information
We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

Closing date: 2 April 2025

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.