HRA Technical Lead

Tetra Tech; New Byth; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental consultancy in the UK is seeking an Associate Director/Director level ecologist with strong Habitat Regulations Assessment expertise. In this role, you will set the technical direction, mentor a team, and oversee project delivery. The position supports hybrid working, allowing flexibility in work hours and location, promoting work-life balance. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience with large-scale HRA projects, strong leadership skills, and a relevant degree. This role offers the chance to influence strategy and contribute to environmental impacts across diverse sectors.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Habitat Regulations Assessment, including complex and large-scale projects.
• Strong leadership and team development experience.
• Excellent understanding of relevant legislation and guidance.
• Proven stakeholder engagement and commercial awareness.
• Public Inquiry experience highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Set technical direction and ensure excellence in HRA delivery.
• Support business growth through bids and tenders.
• Mentor and develop a team of specialists.
• Oversee complex project delivery as Programme Manager.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Collaboration

Project delivery

Education

Relevant degree

Professional membership (e.g. CIEEM)

Job description

Ready to lead nationally significant Habitat Regulations Assessment work and shape the future of HRA delivery?

Join a multi-award-winning consultancy where your leadership and technical expertise will drive innovation, influence strategy and deliver real environmental impact.

Purpose & Scope of the Role

We are seeking an Associate Director/Director level ecologist with strong Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) expertise to lead and grow our national HRA capability. You will play a strategic role within a UK-wide ecology team, contributing to the expansion of our European presence and strengthening an already diverse HRA project portfolio.

Working within a multidisciplinary consultancy, you will collaborate closely with planning, engineering and environmental teams, supporting projects across sectors including residential, energy, infrastructure, minerals and defence throughout the UK and Ireland.

Your Impact in this Position

As the national HRA lead, you will set technical direction, drive innovation and ensure excellence in the delivery of HRA and RIAA outputs. You will lead programme delivery, support business growth through bids and tenders, and build strong client and stakeholder relationships.

You will mentor and develop a team of specialists, embedding best practice and ensuring high‑quality outputs, while influencing how HRA is applied across complex and high‑profile projects.

Core Capabilities

Technical Leadership in HRA

• Lead delivery and quality assurance of HRA and RIAA across a national project portfolio
• Apply deep knowledge of Habitat Regulations, policy and best practice

Strategic & Commercial Awareness

• Shape service growth and contribute to business strategy
• Lead and review bids, tenders and commercial opportunities

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong relationships across multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders
• Engage confidently with local authorities and clients

Team Leadership & Development

• Mentor and develop technical specialists, fostering a high-performing team
• Promote knowledge sharing and continuous improvement

Programme & Project Delivery

• Oversee complex project delivery as Programme Manager
• Ensure innovative, client-focused and compliant solutions

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Habitat Regulations Assessment, including complex and large-scale projects
• Strong leadership and team development experience
• Excellent understanding of relevant legislation and guidance
• Proven stakeholder engagement and commercial awareness
• Relevant degree and professional membership (e.g. CIEEM); Chartered status desirable
• Public Inquiry experience highly desirable

Working Environment

This role offers fully flexible, hybrid working across a network of UK offices, with no fixed office attendance requirements. You’ll have the freedom to work where and when you are most effective, with options for flexible hours, compressed or reduced working patterns to support work‑life balance.

Tetra Tech is a leading provider of consulting and engineering services working across the full project lifecycle worldwide. We have a wide range of expertise across our teams, providing a global support network with a personalised approach to client relationships to better understand where we can add value. We provide a collaborative environment that supports individual performance, innovation, and creativity.

We support public and private sector clients on local, national, and international projects to deliver sustainable and resilient solutions. Our operations in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands include more than 6,000 employees who are leading with Science® to solve our clients’ most complex problems.

In alignment with the Equality Act 2010, we will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates and employees requiring additional arrangements. This could include adaptations to work schedules, training approaches, or the physical workspace. Please inform us if you need any accommodations during the recruitment process or in your day‑to‑day role.