Planning & Environmental Compliance Specialist

Electricity Supply Board; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

Networking opportunities

Staff well-being programmes

Diversity and inclusion

Parental leave

Job summary

ESB Engineering & Major Projects seeks a Planning and Environmental Compliance Specialist to lead planning and environmental compliance across its UK wind farm portfolio, with emphasis on Scotland. The role involves discharging planning conditions, supporting regulatory compliance, and engaging with authorities and stakeholders.

We require UK/Scottish regulatory knowledge, experience in major infrastructure consenting, and the ability to manage consultants and project requirements in a

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in planning and/or environmental compliance.
• Experience in discharge of planning conditions on consented major infrastructure projects.
• In-depth knowledge of UK and Scottish planning and environmental regulatory requirements.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to lead public consultations and collaborate with external parties.

Responsibilities

• Manage planning and environmental compliance activities for ESB’s UK wind farm portfolio, especially Scotland.
• Lead consultations with external authorities (local authorities, NatureScot, SEPA, Marine Scotland) and public consultations.
• Prepare and submit planning and environmental applications to relevant authorities in compliance with regulations.
• Procure and manage consultants and related services for project consenting and compliance.
• Provide expert planning and environmental advice to project teams to ensure timely delivery.
• Address planning and environmental issues with limited oversight and advise teams on technical matters.
• Keep up-to-date with planning and environmental regulatory requirements.

Skills

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder management

Project planning

Environmental compliance

Decision making

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Driving licence

Planning applications

Education

Level 8 Planning/Environmental Science/Environmental Engineering Degree

Level 9 Planning/Environmental Science/Environmental Engineering Degree

Chartered status

Membership of a planning institute

Full driving licence

Job description

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Planning & Environmental Compliance Specialist

Vacancy Number: 29041

Category: Engineering - Planning / Environmental

Job Type: Full-time

ESB Engineering & Major Projects is seeking an experienced Planning and Environmental Compliance Specialist to manage the delivery of planning and environmental compliance across its UK windfarm portfolio, with a particular focus on projects in Scotland.

The role will involve managing the discharge of planning conditions, supporting environmental compliance during project delivery, engaging with statutory authorities and key stakeholders, and providing expert planning and environmental advice to multidisciplinary project teams.

The successful candidate will have strong knowledge of UK and Scottish planning and environmental regulatory requirements, experience in major infrastructure consentingand compliance, and the ability to manage consultants,stakeholdersand project requirements in a structured and collaborative manner.

In support of ESB’s strategic objectives of decarbonising electricity,building resilient infrastructureand empowering customers,this roleenables theefficient and compliantdelivery of renewable energy projects across the UK, helping ESB togrowits low-carbon generation portfolio while managing environmental and planning risks effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage planning and environmental compliance activities, including the discharge of planning conditions, for ESB’s portfolio of consented UK onshore wind farms,in particularthe Scottish wind farm portfolio.
• Lead consultations with key external stakeholders and statutory authorities asrequirede.g. local authorities, NatureScot, SEPA, Marine Scotland, public consultations etc.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across ESB and partner companies to manage the preparation and submission of planning and environmental consenting applications to theappropriate statutoryauthorities, in compliance with the relevant legislative requirements.
• Manage the procurement and delivery of planning, environmental and other related consultant services to support project consenting and compliance activities.
• Provide expert planning and environmental advice to project teams across ESB to successfully scope and deliver projectsin a timely mannerby contributing to feasibility, screening and other studies for sites asrequired.
• Find solutions to planning and environmental consenting issues, with limited oversight and advise project teams on technical planning and environmental matters.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant planning and environmental regulatory requirements for ESB development projects especially in areas ofnew technologies.

Experience and Qualifications

• Level 8 Planning/Environmental Science/ Environmental EngineeringDegree or equivalent qualificationand witha minimumof7 years’ experiencein the area ofPlanning and/or Environmental Complianceand experience in discharge of planning conditions on consented major infrastructure projects.
• In-depth knowledge andunderstanding of UK,andin particular theScottish,planningand environmental regulatory requirements, including major infrastructure consenting processes such as Section 36,EIAand Habitats Regulations assessment.
• Excellentcommunication, interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging internal and external stakeholders and leading public consultations.
• Demonstrated abilityin effectivedecision-making and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with key stakeholders.
• Organised and structured approach to project delivery, withprovenproject managementexpertiseand commercial awareness.
• A full clean driving licence.
• Level 9 Planning / Environmental Science / Environmental Engineering Degree or equivalent qualification.
• Chartered status in a recognised professional institution.
• Full membership of a recognised professional planning institute.

Location

Thispositionis based in ESB’s Glasgow office. Travel to project locationsthroughout Scotlandasrequired, is a key requirement of the role.

Smart Working at ESB is designed to make 'in-person' time together as purposeful as possible while also enabling the effective use of digital tools and hybrid arrangements to preserve our commitment to flexibility. The successful candidate may work flexibly within thejurisdictionwhere they have been employed, with attendance at the workplace for in-person collaborationat least two days per week. All Smart Working arrangements are subject to regular review based on the operational requirements of the role, the team, and the business.

Reporting To

This role will report to the Environmental Compliance Team Lead, Planning & Environmental Group, Generation Engineering, ESB Engineering & Major Projects.

Why Work with Us?

• Opportunity to lead Ireland’s transition tonet zero carbon future
• Career developmentthrough mentoring andtraining
• Sports and Social Clubs
• Networking opportunities
• Access to staff well-being programmes
• Generous parental leave entitlements
• Strong values-based and inclusive culture
• Strong commitment to diversity,equityand inclusion
• Great teamenvironment working to our Core Values: Courageous, Caring, Driven and Trusted

Closing Date

24th September 2026

Interview

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will complete a Behavioural Interview based on each of the following Behaviours, which underpin how we work at ESB and are critical to delivering our strategy:

Your application will be held in reserve for 6 months should you be suitable for the role.

The successful candidate willbe requiredtoevidencetheir right to work in theUKprior to commencement of employment.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

ESB is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all sections of society and ensure that no one is discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion or belief, ethnicity or nationality, disability, age, citizenship, marital status, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation or gender identity, or any other basis as protected by law.

Applicants who anticipate requiring assistance or reasonable accommodations for any part of the application or interview process may contact, in confidence, [e-mail].

About ESB

Join us in our mission to achieve a net-zero electricity system by 2040. ESB is Ireland’s leading energy utility, with activities spanning electricity generation, transmission and distribution, energy supply, energy services and international consultancy. Operating in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain, we invest over €1 billion each year to deliver a new energy future based on reliable, affordable zero-carbon electricity.