Environmental Manager

Costain Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Costain Group seeks an Environmental Manager to lead the environmental function for the HALEU Advanced Fuels Facility programme at Capenhurst, ensuring compliance across a high-hazard nuclear site. The role emphasizes water management, regulatory engagement, and delivering a robust SHE Management System.

You will collaborate with Costain and the client to secure environmental permits, manage incidents, and provide data-driven insights for leadership decisions.

Qualifications

• 5 years environmental experience in a Nuclear Licenced / High-Hazard environment.
• Experience obtaining environmental permits and engaging with regulatory authorities (Environment Agency).
• Demonstrated water-management experience including surface water and groundwater protection.
• Strong environmental monitoring, reporting and data-analysis capabilities.
• Experience managing environmental incidents and corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with environmental legislation, permits and nuclear site requirements, focusing on water management.
• Support and influence teams in implementing the SHE Management System with water-related controls.
• Identify and mitigate water-related environmental risks and hydrological impacts.
• Deliver environmental training to enable consistent controls across teams.
• Oversee supply-chain contractor onboarding to meet Costain and client requirements.
• Develop and implement contract-specific environmental assurance programs with audits and inspections.
• Investigate unplanned events and assurance findings, sharing lessons learned.
• Provide timely environmental data reporting and KPI-aligned improvement plans.

Skills

Nuclear/enviro risk experience

Water management expertise

Regulatory liaison

Data analysis & reporting

Training & coaching

Education

NVQ Level 6 in Environmental Science/Management

Environmental degree (BSc/MSc)

Job description

Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Environmental Manager to support the contract. The role is predominantly site-based working at the Urenco UK nuclear licensed site in Capenhurst (near Chester) with occasional hybrid working.

Applicants are expected to achieve baseline and SC security levels and be willing to work within an integrated team at the client’s premises for the programme management and delivery roles.

The Environmental Manager will lead the environmental function for the HALEU Advanced Fuels Facility programme at Capenhurst, ensuring compliance with statutory, client and company requirements across a high-hazard, nuclear-licensed site.

The role provides expert guidance on environmental risk, with a specific focus on water management, including surface water, groundwater, trade effluent, pollution prevention, and hydrological impacts associated with construction and FEED activities. The role will be responsible for collaborating with the Costain team and the client to secure necessary environmental permits and maintain strict regulatory compliance.

The postholder enables the Contract Leadership and Operational Teams to implement the SHE Management System, delivering project-specific initiatives, and ensuring all requirements are met.

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Responsibilities

• Environmental & Water Compliance — Ensure compliance with environmental legislation, permits, and nuclear site requirements, with particular emphasis on water management (surface water control, groundwater protection, drainage systems, pollution prevention, and trade effluent discharge). This will include supporting the contract team and advising the client on obtaining environmental permits and establishing controls to ensure compliance with permit conditions.
• Environmental Management System — Support and influence Contract Leadership and client teams in implementing the SHE Management System, ensuring environmental and water-related controls are embedded and effective.
• Water Risk Assessment & Mitigation — Identify, assess, and manage water-related environmental risks, including contamination pathways, hydrological impacts, and construction-related water hazards; develop mitigation plans and monitor effectiveness.
• Training & Coaching — Ensure delivery of environmental training by competent individuals, enabling teams to implement environmental controls confidently and consistently.
• Supply Chain Assurance — Support the appointment, onboarding, and ongoing assessment of supply chain contractors, ensuring they meet Costain and client requirements.
• Environmental Assurance Programme — Develop and implement a contract-specific assurance programme covering environmental and water-management compliance, monitoring, inspections, and audits.
• Incident & Event Management — Ensure all unplanned events and assurance findings are categorised, investigated, and lessons learned are shared in accordance with the SHE Management System.
• Environmental Data & Reporting — Provide timely reporting and analysis of environmental data, using insights to influence leadership decisions and develop improvement plans aligned with KPIs and sustainability frameworks.

Qualifications

Essential

• 5 years environmental experience within a Nuclear Licenced / High-Hazard environment
• Experience of obtaining environmental permits and developing strategic relationships with regulatory authorities including the Environment Agency.
• Demonstrable experience in water management, including surface water, groundwater protection, drainage systems, pollution prevention, and regulatory engagement.
• Strong background in environmental monitoring, reporting, and data analysis.
• Experience managing environmental incidents, investigations, and corrective actions.
• Relevant Degree or equivalent (NVQ Level 6) in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, or related discipline

Desirable

• Experience contributing to sustainability, decarbonisation, or nature-positive programmes.
• Experience working with external auditors, certification bodies, or environmental consultants.
• Environmental Degree (Bsc/MSc)
• Institute of Leadership and Management Level 5 Line Managers tool kit or equivalent.
• Commercial Awareness
• Programme/Project management training
• Specialist environmental courses- e.g. noise measurement, waste, contaminated land, CL:AIRE DOWCOP etc