EIA Consultant

Jacobs; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Private medical cover

Membership fees support

Enhanced parental leave

Additional annual leave purchase

Volunteer days

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Principal EIA Consultant to lead environmental assessment workstreams for major UK and Ireland projects. You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams, provide strategic environmental advice to clients, and support successful delivery from strategy to consent and execution.

The role spans renewables, water, utilities, rail and nationally significant infrastructure, with flexible/hybrid working and clear progression paths within a global leader in environmental planning.

Qualifications

• Proven track record delivering EIAs and environmental coordination for infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of environmental assessment methodologies and relevant legislation.
• Experience working within UK consenting regimes (DCO, Town & Country Planning or similar).

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental assessment workstreams and coordinate multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Provide strategic environmental advice to clients and stakeholders.
• Support delivery of complex infrastructure projects from feasibility to consent and delivery.
• Mentor and guide junior team members.
• Engage with regulators and clients to embed sustainability and net-zero objectives.

Skills

EIA experience

Environmental planning

UK consenting

Client engagement

Leadership

Project management

Chartership (ISEP/CIWEM/IES)

Education

Degree/Master in environmental planning or science

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Shape the future of major infrastructure and environmental projects across the UK and Ireland.

As a Principal EIA Consultant, you'll play a leading role in delivering environmental assessment and consenting solutions for some of the region's most complex and high-profile developments. Your work will help clients navigate environmental challenges, secure project consents, and deliver sustainable outcomes that benefit communities for generations to come.

You’ll work alongside multidisciplinary teams, regulators, and industry-leading clients to ensure environmental and sustainability considerations are embedded throughout project design and delivery. Whether supporting renewable energy, water, transport, or nationally significant infrastructure projects, you’ll have the opportunity to influence decisions that create lasting positive impact.

What's In It for You

At Jacobs, you'll have the opportunity to grow your career while working on projects that truly matter.

We offer

• The opportunity to lead nationally significant infrastructure projects
• Exposure to major clients including National Grid, Environment Agency, National Highways, Network Rail, Water Utilities and more
• A clear pathway for technical and leadership progression

We actively support professional growth and empower our people to expand their expertise, develop new skills, and build rewarding long-term careers.

About The Opportunity

Our Water & Environment business is recognised as a leader in environmental consultancy, delivering innovative environmental assessment and consenting services for major projects across the UK and Europe.

We're looking for experienced EIA professionals to join our growing Environmental Planning team. In these roles, you'll lead environmental assessment workstreams, coordinate multidisciplinary technical teams, provide strategic advice to clients, and support the successful delivery of complex infrastructure projects.

Our team works across a diverse range of sectors including

• Renewable energy and hydrogen
• Water and water resource management
• Utilities and transmission infrastructure
• Rail and transport
• Major development and nationally significant infrastructure projects

You’ll contribute to projects from early strategy and feasibility stages through to consent, delivery and implementation, helping clients achieve their environmental, sustainability and net zero objectives.

Here's what you'll need

• Degree or Master's qualification in a relevant environmental, planning or scientific discipline, or equivalent experience
• Demonstrable experience delivering Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and environmental coordination for infrastructure projects
• Strong understanding of environmental assessment methodologies and environmental legislation
• Experience working within UK consenting and planning regimes, including DCO, Town & Country Planning or similar frameworks
• Client-facing experience with the ability to build trusted relationships and engage effectively with stakeholders
• Strong leadership, communication and project management skills
• Relevant chartership and membership of a professional body such as ISEP, CIWEM or IES, or a commitment to achieve this with Jacobs' support

Why Jacobs?

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Private medical cover and digital GP services
• Professional membership fees and support towards chartership
• Enhanced parental leave and family-friendly benefits
• The option to purchase additional annual leave
• Paid volunteering days and charitable giving opportunities
• A collaborative, supportive and inclusive team culture

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow. We believe diverse perspectives create better outcomes, and we're committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

If you're looking for the opportunity to lead significant projects, influence environmental outcomes, and accelerate your career within a recognised industry leader, we'd love to hear from you.

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https//www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.