Head of Environmental Delivery and Operations

SSEN Transmission; Inverness; Hybrid; GBP 81,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible benefits

Private Healthcare discounts

Wellbeing programme

Cycle to Work scheme

Family entitlements

Job summary

SSEN Transmission is seeking a Senior Environmental Lead to direct environmental delivery across major projects in Scotland, ensuring compliance with environmental commitments and statutory obligations. You will shape strategy, manage a cross-functional team, and drive performance across construction, commissioning and handover.

The role requires senior expertise in environmental management, strong leadership, and a track record of delivering complex programmes.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of environmental management, assessment, legislation and consenting requirements for major infrastructure construction and asset management.
• Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary teams on major capital projects with an inclusive, delivery-focused approach.
• Experience developing or managing environmental systems, compliance processes and performance measures.
• Strong commercial and organisational skills, including contract and financial management across complex programmes.
• Degree in an environmental or planning discipline; membership of IEMA or RTPI.

Responsibilities

• Set and lead the environmental strategy for project delivery and operations, ensuring obligations are understood and met.
• Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary team across construction and operations with a positive, solutions-focused culture.
• Oversee environmental delivery from construction through handover, including consent discharge and contractor mobilisation.
• Own and continually improve the Environmental Management System and reporting to internal committees and regulators.
• Plan and deliver reporting and improvement initiatives based on data-driven risk analysis.
• Manage environmental consultancy and contractor performance, building relationships with regulators and industry bodies.

Skills

Environmental management

Leadership

Compliance & reporting

Commercial & organisational skills

Stakeholder liaison

Education

Degree in environmental or planning discipline

Membership of IEMA or RTPI

Job description

Base Location: For this role, we require successful applicants to be based from one of our Scottish locations and you’ll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in the office – Perth, Aberdeen, Glasgow or Inverness.

Salary: £80,700 - £121,100 + car /car allowance – if applicable + performance‑related bonus + a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.

Working Pattern: Permanent | Full Time | Flexible First options available

The role

This is a fantastic opportunity to lead environmental delivery and operations across SSEN Transmission, ensuring environmental and consenting commitments are met through construction, commissioning, handover and the long‑term management of our network assets. You will shape environmental strategy, lead a multi‑disciplinary team and strengthen compliance and performance across the business, helping projects and operations deliver responsibly and successfully.

You will

• Set and lead our environmental strategy for project delivery and operations, ensuring statutory obligations, environmental commitments and business priorities are understood and met.
• Lead, support and develop a multi‑disciplinary team, coordinating resources across construction and operational activities and creating a positive, solutions‑focused culture with high standards.
• Oversee environmental delivery from construction through commissioning and handover, including the discharge of consent conditions, site establishment, contractor mobilisation and the resolution of complex issues.
• Own and continually improve the Environmental Management System, compliance arrangements and performance measures, providing clear reporting to internal committees, regulators and other external bodies.
• Plan and deliver effective reporting and improvement initiatives across the business focused on environmental performance, informed by data driven analysis of key risks and trends.
• Manage environmental consultancy and contractor performance, while building trusted relationships across the business and with regulators, planning authorities, statutory consultees and industry groups.

You have

• In‑depth knowledge of environmental management, assessment, legislation and consenting requirements relevant to major infrastructure construction and operational asset management.
• Proven experience of leading and developing multi‑disciplinary teams working on major capital project portfolios, with an inclusive and collaborative approach that can build relationships, resolve conflict and maintain a strong focus on delivery.
• Experience of developing or managing environmental systems, compliance processes, performance measures and reporting, including responding to changing legislative requirements.
• Strong commercial and organisational skills, including experience of contract, consultancy, contractor and financial management across complex programmes or projects.
• A degree in an environmental or planning discipline, together with membership of an appropriate professional institution such as IEMA or RTPI.

About SSE

SSE’s purpose is to be restless every day until we make electricity clean, affordable and available for all.

We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. This includes electricity transmission and distribution networks, onshore and offshore wind farms, hydro‑electric power and flexible thermal generation. We also provide products and services for businesses and other customers.

Our investment plan will see SSE invest £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure to 2030.

SSEN Transmission own and operate the electricity transmission network across the north of Scotland. We transport electricity from where it is generated to where it is needed, ensuring a safe and reliable electricity supply for the communities we serve. But that’s not all – we’re upgrading the grid to deliver cleaner, homegrown power for the future and building the infrastructure needed for a cleaner electricity system to create secure power for generations to come.

Flexible Benefits To Fit Your Life

Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships. Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service. Interest‑free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme. As well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

Work with an equal opportunity employer

SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact Stephanie at [e-mail] / 01738 342963 to discuss how we can support you.

We’re dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.