Environmental Advisor

VolkerWessels UK Ltd.; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension

Life Assurance

Cycle to Work scheme

Training and development opportunities

Flexible working opportunities

Employee Assistance programme

Mental health and wellbeing support

Job summary

VolkerRail is seeking an Environmental Advisor to join the HSQES team on the TRU East Alliance in Leeds. You will develop and implement bespoke environmental systems across multiple sites, supporting the delivery of major rail project works.

The role requires knowledge of ISO14001, ability to manage environmental risks, and adherence to UK regulations, with opportunities to progress towards PI SEP certification and contribute to sustainability goals.

Qualifications

• Requires environment or science related degree and progressing toward PI SE P certification.
• Knowledge and experience of ISO14001 management systems.
• Experience in identifying and managing environmental risks on construction/rail projects.
• Solid understanding of UK environmental legislation and consents.

Responsibilities

• Identify site environmental risks and controls for major construction works and embed them in planning and hand-back arrangements.
• Develop and maintain environmental and social management plans with documentation and briefing.
• Support TRU Sustainability Delivery Plan targets (biodiversity, carbon reduction, weather resilience, social value, BRE EAM).
• Collect and report environmental performance data (EPIs, dashboards) for client reviews.
• Provide guidance to project teams on environmental management, waste, pollution control and energy use.
• Engage with stakeholders to ensure compliance with environmental management arrangements.

Skills

Self-motivated

Pro-active

Integrity

Problem solving

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Deadline-driven

Driving licence

Education

Environment or science degree

PISEP certification or progress toward

Tools

ISO14001 management systems

Job description

VolkerRail Major Projects is an expert in collaborative working through joint ventures and alliance schemes. Collaborative working agreements are a proven strategy for delivering large, complex railway projects, and through its strong relationships with other major contractors, VolkerRail Major Projects has helped to deliver several of the biggest rail projects over the last decade.

The mission of the TRU East Alliance is to transform the East of Leeds route allowing people to travel faster, more reliably and in greater comfort between the North’s great cities. Providing passengers with more choice, more seats and better facilities on a safer, cleaner, more environmentally friendly railway.

The TRU East project is broken down into multiple overlapping projects. Project E1 which is currently in build and planned to complete in December 2024. With the remaining projects E2,3,4 and Shipley planned to complete in 2028. The project works include full new electrification between Leeds and York and include significant and complex renewals works at Neville Hill and Church Fenton. The works also include a new depot at Shipley, and line speed enhancement and Journey time improvement works along the route between Leeds and York.

An opportunity has arisen for an Environmental Advisor to join the VolkerRail HSQES team. The position is open to candidates with different levels of experience, including graduates and experienced professionals. The role will join VolkerRail Major Projects Division assigned to the TRU East Alliance, one of the most significant rail projects in the North of England and will give the successful candidate ample opportunity to put their own mark on the role and the project by developing and implementing bespoke systems and processes.

The project hub is located in Cross Green, Leeds (LS9 0SG) with travel across multiple sites and offices between Leeds, York, Ossett and Shipley.

Reporting to the Environment & Sustainability Manager for the Alliance the role’s key duties will include:

• Identifying site specific environmental risks and controls measures associated with major construction works, and integrating environmental management into design, planning, construction, commissioning and hand back arrangements.
• Developing and maintaining environmental and social management plans, and other supporting documentation, and ensuring their effective briefing and cascade of controls through project documentation.
• Support the delivery of targets and objectives set out in the TRU Sustainability Delivery Plan including those linked to: Biodiversity Net Gain, Carbon Reduction, Weather Resilience, Social Value and BREEAM.
• Responsible for collating periodic sustainability performance reporting through environmental performance metrics (EPIs), sustainability dashboards and presenting to the client.
• Provide support and guidance to project and delivery teams with regards to environmental management, in particular waste, pollution control, noise & nuisance, ecology, carbon & energy.
• Liaison and communication with internal and external stakeholders (particularly project delivery teams and supporting functional roles, subcontractors and suppliers) to ensure the requirements of environmental management arrangements are effectively discharged.
• Responsible for ensuring project delivery teams comply with internal management systems, legislation, and client requirements, including the collection, analysis and reporting of data to measure performance against objectives and targets – driving the Alliance to continuously improve.
• Conduct environmental inspections, audits and other assurance activities, identifying trends and recommending preventative measures to address non-conformances and opportunities for improvement.
• Support the identification and development of environmental training packages for delivery to TRU East staff and subcontractors.
• To investigate environmental incidents, nuisance complaints and high potential environmental close calls as directed by the Designated Competent Person (excluding local and formal – unless the role holder is qualified through the IOSH Rail Incident Investigation Training) and reporting the findings internally and externally to the required timescales.
• Engage in social value activities such as schools’ engagement and volunteering events
• Drive sustainability values and behaviours to prevent the likelihood of environmental incidents.

About you

You will be self‑motivated with a pro‑active approach and have experience of working under pressure and meeting tight deadlines. Integrity, problem solving, communication and good interpersonal skills are a key requirement for this role.

The candidate must have an environment or science‑related degree or equivalent and be a Practitioner of the Institute of Sustainability & Environmental Professionals (PISEP) or capable of working towards it. The candidate will ideally have demonstrable post qualification experience in a similar role, with experience in the construction / rail sector beneficial.

The candidate shall ideally have the following experience/skill set:

• Knowledge and experience of ISO14001 management systems.
• Experience of identifying and managing environmental risks arising from construction projects and monitoring the effectiveness of control measures.
• Have a solid understanding of UK environmental legislation, and capable of identifying the need for environmental consents and authorisations.
• Experience of the processes for applying and securing environmental consents and authorisations with regulatory authorities.
• Capable of producing clear and concise environmental management plans and other supporting project documentation, including controlled records for auditing purposes.
• Experience of conducting environmental site‑based inspections and/or audits.
• Strong organisational skills to work on multiple projects, and communication skills to articulate the right information, to the right people, at the right time to control environmental risks and secure opportunities for continuous environmental improvement.
• Working knowledge of Network Rail Environmental and Social Contract Requirements, standards and guidance, would be beneficial but training will be provided.
• Experience of delivering environmental training would be beneficial
• Full UK Driving Licence.

If your past experience doesn’t match perfectly with every requirement of the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for us.

Why work with us?

VolkerRail is under the umbrella of VolkerWessels UK which is a multidisciplinary contractor that delivers innovative engineering solutions across the civil engineering and construction sectors including rail, highways, airport, marine, energy, water, and environmental infrastructure.

By utilising the specialist skills of each business unit within VolkerWessels UK, VolkerRail are able to ensure our staff provide unrivalled resources and expertise to our clients.

We offer competitive rewards and benefits, recognising the value we place on our employees.

We offer a range of benefits, including:

• Competitive salary
• Competitive annual leave and an additional day off on your birthday
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Shopping and restaurants vouchers, rewards, and discounts
• Training and development opportunities-comprehensive skills-based training
• Family friendly polices including enhanced maternity benefits
• Flexible working opportunities
• Employee Assistance programme
• Mental health, physical health, and financial support
• 24/7 Virtual GP service

Fairness, inclusion and respect

We believe in pushing boundaries in the pursuit of fairness, inclusion and respect. So, our teams can be comfortable that, whatever their background, VolkerWessels UK is a place where they can be themselves and thrive.You can read more about our FIR Strategy as well as our partners here Fairness, Inclusion and Respect | VolkerWessels UK

If you need support with your application, please contact us at [e-mail]

Additional information

Note for Recruitment Agencies:

Our preference is to hire directly, and we will reach out to our Preferred Supplier List (PSL) agencies if this particular role qualifies for release.

We kindly request that you refrain from sending speculative CVs. In the event of speculative CV submissions, no fees will be applicable, and we kindly ask that all inquiries to be directed to [e-mail]

VolkerWessels UK is committed to maintaining healthy, safe and productive working conditions for its entire staff and therefore a drugs & alcohol screening is mandatory for all.