Environmental Specialist

Mott MacDonald; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days holiday incl. public holidays

Pension contributions match 4.5%–7%

Annual bonus schemes

Private medical insurance

Life assurance / critical illness

Flexible benefits programme

Job summary

Mott MacDonald Bentley is looking for a proactive Environmental Specialist to join our environment team across the UK, supporting regional design and operation staff to deliver environmental improvements. You will identify environmental risks, coordinate inputs (ecology, archaeology, geology, drainage) and produce deliverables such as EIA screenings and environmental management plans.

You will liaise with regulators, engage with clients, and drive sustainable outcomes across major water and

Qualifications

• Chartered with a relevant professional body or working towards chartership.
• Awareness of planning processes in the water sector and permits/consents.
• Experience producing environmental permits and consents (e.g. flood risk, Tree Protection Orders).
• Ability to promote sustainability initiatives and biodiversity net gain.

Responsibilities

• Identify environmental risks across the project lifecycle from definition to completion.
• Develop environmental risk mitigation measures considering cost, time, compliance, safety and social impact.
• Coordinate inputs from heritage, ecology, archaeology, geomorphology and related disciplines.
• Produce deliverables at milestones, including EIA screening assessments and environmental management plans.
• Lead liaison with environmental regulators and communicate with team members and stakeholders.
• Engage with clients on environmental and consenting matters and build relationships.
• Demonstrate broad understanding of environmental disciplines and project risks.
• Plan, organise and communicate to ensure successful project outcomes and timely delivery.
• Solve problems methodically and drive project delivery with a proactive mindset.

Skills

Environmental risk

Regulatory liaison

Ecology

Archaeology

Geotechnics

Contaminated land

Job description

Internal applicants are welcome.

Mott MacDonald Bentley is a fully integrated design and build business combining the design expertise of Mott MacDonald with the contracting experience of JN Bentley to deliver award winning projects. Working for Mott MacDonald Bentley, you will work on major water and wastewater schemes throughout all phases of the project from feasibility through to construction. With an annual turnover surpassing £500 million, Mott MacDonald Bentley cements its position as a leader within the industry. The sustained, robust business performance creates an ideal environment for career growth.

Working primarily in the UK water market, MMB provides the feasibility, design, construction, and commissioning services needed to keep water flowing and wastewater treated. You’ll work on projects that make a real difference to our environment and our communities by enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of water and wastewater treatment systems.

We have been named a partner on a new AMP8 framework with United Utilities, which will extend our relationship for at least the next five years. The partnership is set to be responsible for over £3bn of major infrastructure in the North West of England. Investment includes upgrades to wastewater treatment works and reducing storm overflows through the delivery of the largest spill reduction programme in the UK, protecting more than 500km of rivers and bathing waters.

We are looking for a proactive Environmental Specialist who will be part of our environment team co-located across the UK, supporting a regional team comprised of both design and operation staff to deliver environmental improvements at both local and regional level.

As Environmental Specialist, it is essential that you are able to:

• Identify specific environmental risks throughout the project lifecycle, from solution definition to completion.

• Support projects teams to develop environmental risk mitigation measures, with consideration of cost, time, compliance, safety and social impacts.

• Identify, plan and coordinate project environmental specialist inputs (e.g. heritage and archaeology, ecology, geomorphology), to ensure that all environmental tasks are completed at the correct time and to the required standards, including prioritising risks.

• Produce specific environmental deliverables at appropriate project milestones including but not limited to EIA screening assessments, environmental management plans.

• Lead on the liaison with environmental regulators and have the ability to communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders.

• Positively engage with our clients regarding environmental and consenting matters, develop relationships and enhance our reputation.

• Demonstrate a broad understanding of environmental disciplines and project risks, including ecology, archaeology, drainage, geotechnics, contaminated land, landscape and noise; deeper expertise in at least one of these areas would be advantageous.

• Coordinate the management of environmental aspects through a high level of planning, organisation, and communication, to ensure successful project outcomes.

• Solve problems methodically and drive project delivery with a proactive and pragmatic mindset.

• Deliver results within short timeframes, prioritise tasks and manage your time efficiently.

It is desirable that you:

• Are chartered with a relevant professional body or actively working towards chartership

• Have an awareness of the planning process (preferably in the water sector), including the need for surveys as well as permits and consents for relevant construction activities.
• Have experience in producing applications for environmental permits and consents, including but not limited to flood risk activity permits, Tree Protection Order consents and groundwater permits.

• Have experience in advising and promoting on project sustainability initiatives, including an understanding of biodiversity net gain.

• Support the development and delivery of environmental training across the wider business.

• Have a valid driving licence and willingness to travel to sites.

What’s in it for you:

Financial wellbeing

• MMB match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.

• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues including our annual bonus schemes.

• Payment of annual professional institution subscription costs.

Health and wellbeing

• A minimum of 33 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays, with the ability to buy, sell or carry over annual leave through our flexible benefits programme.

• Access to Life Assurance / Private Medical Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance and Health Screening options.

• We are happy to talk openly about flexible working and how we can support your responsibilities beyond the workplace.

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave plus the option for shared parental leave.

• Up to 2 paid additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities.

Learning and development

• MMB are committed to empowering our people to grow professionally and thrive in their careers. We offer structured development schemes that support your journey toward professional chartership. From day one, employees are fast-tracked towards chartership reviews and benefit from mentorship, hands‑on experience, and tailored training opportunities.

Mott MacDonald Bentley are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Other information

This is a Mott MacDonald Bentley role, employed by Mott MacDonald.
Mott MacDonald Bentley is a joint venture business, established in 1999 between civil engineering contractor JN Bentley and global management consultancy, Mott MacDonald.

Mott MacDonald Bentley offers fully integrated design and build services to its clients, combining the contracting expertise of JN Bentley and the design specialisms of Mott MacDonald.

This role is employed by Mott MacDonald but will involve working across the joint venture business, both with Mott MacDonald and JN Bentley colleagues.

About Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management and development consultancy.

Our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.

A fundamental part of this is respecting each person’s differences and striving to meet their needs.
Our values: progress, respect, integrity, drive, excellence.

We believe that because we care about what we do, we do things better.
We know that our people are our most valuable asset, so we are dedicated to investing in them, through our comprehensive training and development schemes, exposure to the wider design and build business and endless opportunities.

We are committed to creating a workplace where our people are safe, have a voice, can reach their full potential, and everyone shares in the rewards.

You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to projects that benefit our communities – from helping to secure water supplies for future generations to protecting homes and businesses from flood risk – our projects make a real difference.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
A Mott MacDonald Bentley we welcome applications from all sectors of the community. We are dedicated to building a diverse workplace where everyone feels included, has the opportunity to thrive, and is treated with respect.

Even if you don’t meet every requirement for this role but are excited about the opportunity, we encourage you to apply. Find out more about our approach to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion here: https://www.mottmacbentley.co.uk/people.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment practices are barrier‑free and as inclusive as possible. This includes making adjustments during the job application process and throughout your future career with us. Please call 01756 691572 or email [e-mail] to discuss any such adjustments that we can make. You can read more about our Equal Opportunities Policy here: Equality, diversity and inclusion - Mott MacDonald

Agile working
We are committed to providing a flexible and agile working environment that supports both our employees and the needs of the business.

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