Environment Advisor Rail

Carrington West; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible benefits allowance (15%)

Job summary

HS2 is recruiting an Environmental Advisor on a client-side environmental assurance basis. This early-career role offers experience across a nationally significant infrastructure programme, liaising with contractors, environmental specialists and project stakeholders to ensure environmental requirements are met.

You will review documentation, check compliance with consent requirements and project standards, and escalate issues as needed.

Qualifications

• Degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Geography or related discipline.
• ~6–18 months of relevant environmental experience.
• Understanding of environmental management, compliance and assurance.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to review technical documents and identify gaps or non-compliance.
• Proactive, organized, and able to travel between offices/sites.

Responsibilities

• Review environmental documentation for compliance with project standards and consent requirements.
• Identify issues and communicate findings with relevant teams to drive action.
• Engage with contractors, environmental specialists and stakeholders to ensure compliant outcomes.
• Support environmental assurance activities across a major infrastructure programme (not an EIA-writing role).

Skills

Clear communication

Stakeholder engagement

Environmental management

Documentation review

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science/Management/Geography

Job description

Are you an early-career environmental professional looking to develop your experience on one of the UK's largest infrastructure projects?

Do you have a background in environmental management, environmental consultancy or a related discipline, with strong communication skills and the confidence to engage with a range of stakeholders?

Salary: Salary: £41,400 - £48,702.50 (London) / £36,857.50 - £43,355 (Birmingham), including 15% flexible benefits allowance.

Location: London or Birmingham, 3 days office/site per week
Job Type: Permanent

I am recruiting for an Environmental Advisor to join my client, HS2, supporting the environmental assurance and compliance of one of the UK's most significant infrastructure programmes.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone in the early stages of their environmental career to gain valuable client-side experience, working closely with contractors, environmental specialists and project stakeholders to ensure environmental requirements are being met.

You'll be responsible for reviewing environmental documentation, checking compliance with project standards and consent requirements, identifying issues and communicating effectively with the relevant teams to ensure appropriate action is taken.

This is not an EIA-writing role. The focus is on environmental assurance, stakeholder engagement and supporting the delivery of compliant environmental outcomes across a major infrastructure programme.

Essential:

• A degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Geography or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant environmental knowledge and experience.
• Approximately 6–18 months' relevant environmental experience, ideally within consultancy, infrastructure, construction or a similar environment.
• A good understanding of environmental management, compliance and assurance principles.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain information and engage confidently with different stakeholders.
• Ability to build positive working relationships and collaborate effectively with colleagues, contractors and external stakeholders.
• Confidence identifying potential issues, using sound judgement and escalating concerns appropriately.
• Ability to review technical documents, identify gaps or non-compliance and communicate findings clearly.
• A proactive approach to work, with the confidence to ask questions, follow up on actions and seek support when required.
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Willingness to travel between offices and project sites as required.

Desirable Experience:

• Previous experience within an environmental consultancy, infrastructure organisation or major construction programme.
• Exposure to National Highways, rail, utilities or other regulated infrastructure projects.
• Experience reviewing environmental management plans, compliance documentation or environmental reports.
• Understanding of environmental consents, permits and requirements relating to ecology, water, noise or other environmental disciplines.
• Experience working with contractors, local authorities or external stakeholders.
• Previous site experience or exposure to environmental assurance activities.
• Experience working in a compliance, quality assurance or regulated environment.
• Evidence of strong teamwork, collaboration and decision-making skills through employment, university projects or extracurricular activities.

This is an opportunity to join HS2 in a client-side environmental assurance role, gaining exposure to the scale, complexity and stakeholder engagement involved in delivering a nationally significant infrastructure programme.

You’ll initially support utilities-related works before gaining exposure to main works civils, systems and eventually operational activities, providing an excellent opportunity to develop a broad understanding of environmental management across different project stages.

My client is particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, sound judgement and the confidence to communicate when something needs addressing. You don't need to have all the technical answers, but you do need to recognise potential issues, engage with the right people and know when to elevate concerns.

You’ll receive support from experienced environmental professionals while developing the confidence to undertake document reviews, engage directly with contractors and contribute to environmental assurance activities.

This could suit someone with early environmental consultancy experience, a recent graduate with relevant practical experience, or someone transitioning from another industry who can demonstrate a strong environmental foundation and excellent communication skills.

Interested?