Environmental Specialist

JN Bentley; West of England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Mott MacDonald Bentley seeks an Environmental Specialist to join our environment team, supporting a regional group with design and operation staff. You'll identify risks and coordinate specialist inputs across ecology, archaeology, and other disciplines to ensure responsibilities are met.

The role emphasises environmental permit work, regulator liaison, client engagement, and delivering training; a chartered professional or progress toward chartership is expected, with travel to sites across the

Qualifications

• Chartered status with a relevant professional body or working towards chartership.
• Understanding environmental disciplines and project risks (ecology, archaeology, drainage, etc.).
• Awareness of the planning process (water sector) and permits/consents.
• Ability to coordinate environmental aspects through planning and communication.
• Experience advising on sustainability initiatives and biodiversity net gain.
• Strong communication with team members and stakeholders.
• Methodical, proactive, and pragmatic problem solving.
• Valid driving licence and willingness to travel to sites.

Responsibilities

• Identify environmental risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support project teams to develop mitigation measures considering cost, time, compliance, safety and social impacts.
• Coordinate inputs from heritage, archaeology, ecology, geomorphology to ensure timely environmental tasks.
• Produce deliverables at milestones (EIA screening, material management plans, environmental management plans).
• Prepare applications for environmental permits and consents.
• Lead liaison with environmental regulators.
• Engage with clients regarding environmental and consenting matters; build relationships.
• Contribute to environmental improvement projects locally and regionally.
• Assist in the production and delivery of training.

Skills

Environmental risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Planning & permitting

Regulatory liaison

Project coordination

Education

Chartered status or working towards chartership

Job description

Work Pattern: Full time and part time

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.

MMB has been named a capital delivery partner on two multi-million-pound ‘lots’ that will see the company deliver projects across the region through to 2030 - with the potential for a five-year extension into AMP9 thereafter. Wessex Water serves 2.9 million customers with water and sewerage services across the south west of England. Set for record investment in AMP8 – more than double that of AMP7 – MMB will bring its strong track record of innovation and direct-delivery to drive a programme of work. We will be delivering schemes located around Bournemouth, Poole and South Dorset area.

You will work on projects that make a real difference to our environment and our communities. 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 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.

As Environmental Specialist, You Will

• 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.
• Able to produce specific environmental deliverables at appropriate project milestones e.g. EIA screening assessments, material management plans, and environmental management plans.
• Able to produce applications for environmental permits and consents.
• Lead on the liaison with environmental regulators.
• Positively engage with our clients regarding environmental and consenting matters, develop relationships and enhance our reputation.
• Contribute to environmental improvement projects at both local and regional level.
• Assist in the production and delivery of training.

What you’ll need:

• Chartered with a relevant professional body or actively working towards chartership
• An understanding of environmental disciplines and project risks in the following areas: ecology, archaeology, drainage, geotechnical, contaminated land, landscape, noise. More in-depth knowledge and experience in one of these subject areas is desirable.
• Awareness of the planning process (preferably the water sector), including the need for surveys as well as permits and consents for relevant construction activities.
• Able to coordinate the management of environmental aspects through a high level of planning, organisation, and communication, to ensure successful project outcomes.
• Experience in advising and promoting on project sustainability initiatives, including an understanding of biodiversity net gain.
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders.
• Methodical approach to problem solving.
• A proactive and pragmatic approach.
• Proficient in delivering results within short timeframes, prioritising tasks and managing your time efficiently.
• 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 our 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.