Environmental & Sustainability Advisor

WJ UK; Kings Langley; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

WJ UK is seeking an environmental advisor to provide practical, hands-on environmental and sustainability guidance across nationwide operations and the Sizewell C project. You will help ensure compliance with environmental permits, integrate ISO 14001 requirements, and support ESG reporting.

You will visit sites, mentor teams, and assist with tenders and pre-qualification content while staying abreast of evolving regulations and industry best practices.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years’ experience as an environmental advisor on construction or infrastructure sites.
• Strong knowledge of UK environmental legislation, permits and waste duty of care.
• Experience with CEMPs, SWMPs and RAMS and carrying out site environmental inspections.
• CSCS card (or able to obtain) and full UK driving licence.
• Able to obtain the security clearance required for work on a nuclear new‑build site.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; advanced Excel; AI tools (e.g., Claude).
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills.
• ISO 14001 internal auditor training.
• SEMAT or NEBOSH Environmental Certificate; First Aid at Work.
• Awareness of waste classification and the CL:AIRE DoWCoP.
• Awareness of carbon and ESG data reporting.
• Experience on Sizewell C or another major infrastructure projects.
• Experience of water quality monitoring and sampling.

Responsibilities

• Visit WJ projects nationwide to carry out environmental inspections, audits and advice.
• Advise on environmental permits, discharge consents and abstraction requirements at tender and mobilisation stage.
• Maintain and develop ISO 14001 elements of WJ’s Integrated Management System.
• Contribute to internal audits and external certification audits.
• Analyse environmental performance data and produce monthly reports and KPIs.
• Support tenders with environmental and sustainability content.
• Coach site engineers and SHEQ teams to build environmental competence.
• Lead or support site environmental documentation for contracts.
• Carry out toolbox talks, inductions and compliance training.
• Monitor environmental legislation changes and brief the business on implications.

Skills

Environmental expertise

Project coordination

Stakeholder communication

Driving licence

Education

SEMAT/NEBOSH Environmental Certificate

First Aid at Work

Tools

Excel

AI tools (Claude)

Microsoft Office

Job description

WJ is the UK's leading water management specialist – the partner and contractor of choice for major construction and infrastructure programmes. Founded by academics and evolved through expertise, we apply scientific principles to solve complex water challenges: over 40 years' experience and 4,000+ projects worldwide, including the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the London Olympic Park, Crossrail, Tideway, HS2 and currently Sizewell C. Our expanding service lines span dewatering & groundwater control, water treatment, surface water management, I&M, pumping tests, well drilling and professional services, grounded in engineering and delivered in partnership. Our values of Confidence, Pride, Clarity & Integrity, and Independence guide every decision we make.

About the Role

To provide practical, hands‑on environmental and sustainability advice and assurance across WJ’s operations, splitting time between the Sizewell C project and WJ’s nationwide projects, WJ’s Offices/Yards. The role ensures WJ’s works comply with environmental legislation, permits, consents and client requirements, with a particular focus on water management discharges, and waste. It also maintains and develops the environmental elements of WJ’s ISO 14001 Integrated Management System, builds environmental competence across site teams, and supports WJ’s carbon and ESG reporting.

Reports to

SHEQ Manager

Key relationships

• SHEQ Manager and SHE Advisor
• WJ Operations Teams
• WJ’s Sizewell C Project staff and client (SZC, CWA & tier 3 contractors) environmental & sustainability, consents and H&S teams
• Subcontractors, waste carriers, hire suppliers and laboratories
• Regulators where required, including the Environment Agency, Natural England and the local authority
• Commercial and Sales teams on environmental requirements and costs

Key areas of responsibility

WJ nationwide projects, Head Office and Yard Facility (2-3 days per week)

• Visit WJ projects nationwide to carry out environmental inspections, audits and advice, with a focus on water management discharges, consents and waste.
• Support project set-up by advising on environmental permits, discharge consents, abstraction requirements and client environmental requirements at tender and mobilisation stage.
• Maintain and develop the environmental elements of WJ’s Integrated Management System, including the aspects and impacts register, legal register, objectives and targets, procedures and forms, to support ISO 14001 certification.
• Contribute to internal audits, management review and external certification audits.
• Analyse environmental performance data and produce monthly reports and KPIs for the SHEQ Manager.
• Support tenders and pre‑qualification questionnaires with environmental and sustainability content.
• Coach and mentor site engineers and SHEQ team members to build environmental competence across the business.
• Monitor changes in environmental legislation and guidance and brief the business on what they mean for WJ.

Sizewell C (2-3 days per week)

• under each contract on the project.
• Act as WJ’s day‑to‑day environmental point of contact on site, attending our clients environmental and sustainability meetings and reporting on WJ’s performance
• Ensure WJ works comply with the SZC Ltd.’s Code of Construction Practice, CEMP, environmental and sustainability appendices, and all permits, licences and consents under each contract on the project
• Advise the site team on the environmental controls for surface water and groundwater discharges, including water quality monitoring (e.g. suspended solids, pH, turbidity, Fe, hydrocarbons), treatment arrangements, and keeping accurate records against discharge and abstraction limits.
• Support the site team and I&M team on groundwater and surface water monitoring, interpreting results and escalating trends or exceedances promptly.
• Help identify and control the risk of contaminated surface water and groundwater being drawn into or discharged from WJ water management systems.
• Support the site team in managing excavated materials and arisings in line with the Site Waste Management Plan, including waste classification and duty of care records.
• Support the site teams in the preparation and review of WJ’s environmental documentation for each of contracts on the project, including Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) Site Waste Management Plans (SWMP), environmental risk assessments, method statement environmental sections, pollution incident response plans, in the client’s document control format.
• Carry out environmental inspections and audits, raise and close out findings, and track corrective actions.
• Deliver environmental toolbox talks, briefings, inductions and compliance training (e.g. waste and spill response) to WJ staff and subcontractors.
• Carry out or arrange dust, noise and vibration monitoring where WJ activities require it.
• Support the site team in their spill prevention and response, fuel and chemical storage, COSHH‑related environmental controls and spill kit provision.
• Promote protection of the sensitive surrounding environment, including designated sites and protected species, and ensure ecological constraints are briefed and followed.
• Support the site team in collecting and reporting each contracts carbon, energy, fuel, water and waste data to support client ESG reporting and WJ’s Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions reporting.
• Lead or support investigation of environmental incidents and near misses, identifying root causes and lessons learned.

Qualifications & Experience

• At least 3 years’ experience as an environmental advisor on construction or infrastructure sites.
• Working knowledge of UK environmental legislation, including permits and consents, waste duty of care and pollution prevention.
• Experience of working to CEMPs, SWMPs and RAMS and carrying out site environmental inspections.
• Confident delivering toolbox talks and briefings to site teams.
• CSCS card (or able to obtain) and full UK driving licence.
• Able to obtain the security clearance required for work on a nuclear new‑build site.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word and PowerPoint), with advanced Excel skills, and in the use of AI tools such as Claude
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Organised, with the ability to prioritise and plan own workload and that of the team, and to work to deadlines
• ISO 14001 internal auditor training.
• SEMAT or NEBOSH Environmental Certificate; First Aid at Work.
• Awareness of waste classification and the CL:AIRE DoWCoP.
• Awareness of carbon and ESG data reporting.
• Experience on Sizewell C or another major infrastructure or nuclear project sites.
• Experience of water quality monitoring and sampling, ideally linked to site discharges.

Working Conditions

Full time position based at WJ’s UK Head Office (Kings Langley). Hours are 08:30 to 17:00, Monday to Friday, with a one‑hour unpaid lunch break each day.

2-3 days per week based at Sizewell C, Leiston, Suffolk. The successful candidate must live within reasonable daily commuting distance of the site.

2-3 days per week travelling to other WJ projects across the UK or working from WJ Head Office, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire or WJ Yard Facility, Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire. Occasional overnight stays may be needed.

• Uphold WJ’s values and commitment to safety, quality and environmental performance.
• Follow WJ policies and procedures and the requirements of the Integrated Management System (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and alignment to ISO 27001).
• Promote continuous improvement and a positive, ethical culture of environmental and sustainability integrity across the business.
• Stop work where there is a risk of harm to people or the environment, and report all incidents, near misses and concerns promptly.
• Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others affected by your work.
• Protect company and client information in line with information security requirements.
• Keep professional competence current through continuing professional development.
• Carry out any other reasonable duties requested by your line manager in line with your skills and experience.