Head of Planning and Property

Why Southwark?

Are you ready to lead a powerhouse team of planning and property lawyers shaping the future of one of London’s most exciting boroughs? At Southwark Council, we’re looking for a visionary Head of Property & Planning to join our Legal Services leadership team.

If you have a wealth of experience and a passion for driving excellence within a talented team of legal professionals, this is your moment to make a significant inroad into senior management with a difference and continue to work on interesting and complex work.

Why this role is unmissable:

• High-profile impact: Advise on some of London’s most ambitious regeneration projects, including Old Kent Road and Canada Water.
• Strategic leadership: Play a pivotal role in shaping governance, law, and community transformation.
• Career-defining opportunity: Step into senior management, leading a talented team at the forefront of local government law.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and inspire a specialist team of senior and property/planning lawyers.
• Provide expert legal advice to Cabinet, Committees, Steering Groups and client departments.
• Ensure good governance by upholding constitutional standards and staying ahead of legislative changes.
• Drive strategic excellence by aligning legal insights with Southwark 2030 and the council’s Corporate Delivery Plan.
• Champion equality, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of service delivery.

What We're Looking For

• Qualified solicitor, barrister, or FILEX with a current practising certificate.
• Expertise in planning law, including advising planning committees, regeneration, S106, and development agreements.
• Proven track record of managing and inspiring legal teams within local government.
• Strong leadership and budget management skills with a commercial mindset.
• Ability to work under pressure, balance priorities, and maintain meticulous attention to detail.
• A collaborative, forward-thinking approach with a passion for public service.
• Flexible hybrid working (home-based with travel to our London Bridge HQ).
• Exposure to landmark developments shaping London’s future.
• A leadership role where law, governance, and community transformation converge.

Additional Information

About Southwark Council

Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with many social enterprises and we have a young, diverse, and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities.

Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

Benefits and more information:

Working for Southwark Council – Southwark

Salary Range: £67,380 - £84,075

This post attracts an additional JNC benefit to the value of £2724 Per Annum.

Application Closing Date: 11.59pm on the 5th of October 2025

Interview + Presentation Date: The 17th of October 2025

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

Attachments

• job Description & Person Specfication