Principal Consultant - Marine Consents

GHD; Guildford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global professional services leader is seeking a Principal Consultant, Marine Consents to manage and grow offshore wind consultancy services. This role involves directing environmental approvals for significant marine infrastructure projects, mentoring a team, and collaborating globally. The ideal candidate has over 10 years in marine environmental consulting and a Bachelor's in Environmental Sciences, with strong skills in project delivery, leadership, and client relations. Opportunities for professional development and a hybrid working environment are offered.

Benefits

25 days paid leave

Matched pension contributions

Family-friendly flexible working

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in marine environmental consulting.
• Deep understanding of UK environmental regulations.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of marine EIAs and permitting strategies.
• Mentor and grow a high-performing team.
• Guide strategic bids and proposals for business growth.

Skills

Marine environmental consulting

Leadership

Project delivery

Interpersonal skills

Technical writing

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences or related

Job description

Join a global professional services leader, committed to solving the world’s biggest challenges across energy, transport, utilities and urbanisation.

GHD is one of the world’s leading professional services companies operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation.

Privately owned by our people, GHD provides engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services to private and public sector clients across five continents. Focused on creating lasting community benefit, our connected global network of over 12,000 people delivers projects with high standards of safety, quality and ethics.

The Role

Are you ready to lead the way in shaping sustainable offshore development? GHD Advisory is looking for a dynamic and experienced Principal Consultant, Marine Consents to manage and grow our UK-based consultancy services, while playing a global role in delivering offshore wind and marine infrastructure projects across the globe.

In this high-impact role, you’ll direct and deliver complex environmental approvals for major offshore infrastructure projects—including in the rapidly evolving offshore wind sector. You’ll provide strategic advice, lead a growing team, and collaborate with colleagues and clients across EMEA, APAC, and the Americas.

This is your opportunity to work at the cutting edge of marine environmental consulting and to elevate GHD’s presence as a growing brand and trusted advisor in the offshore industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of marine EIAs, consents, and permitting strategies for offshore developments in UK and European waters.
• Serve as a Technical Advisor on complex, high-profile environmental projects across international markets.
• Collaborate with global GHD teams to offer advisory services and share best practice on marine approvals and compliance.
• Mentor and grow a high-performing team, providing technical guidance, leadership, and career development opportunities.
• Guide and coordinate strategic bids and proposals, identifying and pursuing opportunities aligned with business growth goals.
• Foster long‑term client relationships, acting as a trusted advisor and delivering consistent value through insight and delivery excellence.
• Represent GHD at industry events, stakeholder engagements, and internal forums, actively contributing to market visibility and thought leadership.
• Integrate environmental considerations into project design by working closely with engineers, planners, and regulators.
• Oversee the production of high-quality, clear, and impactful reports and communications tailored to clients, regulators, and stakeholders.
• Stay informed on emerging trends and regulatory developments, contributing to continuous improvement and innovation in our services.

Key Skills & Experience Required

• A Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Environmental Sciences, Marine Science, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in marine environmental consulting, including strong expertise in offshore wind and other marine sectors.
• Demonstrated success delivering environmental impact assessments and permitting projects, ideally including UK DCO applications or equivalent.
• Deep understanding of UK environmental regulations, with international experience in marine consenting considered a strong advantage.
• Familiarity with environmental and social risk frameworks, including IFC Performance Standards and Equator Principles.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, bringing strong people management and mentorship skills.
• Strong business acumen with a track record of successful project delivery, client growth, and proposal development.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills—able to influence, negotiate, and build consensus across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholder groups.
• Skilled in technical writing, data analysis, and regulatory engagement, with an ability to distill complex issues into actionable strategies.
• Passion for sustainability, innovation, and creating lasting environmental value through infrastructure development.

Why Join GHD?

GHD is a global professional services company committed to solving the world’s biggest challenges in water, energy, and urbanisation. As part of our growing Advisory business, you’ll work on career-defining projects with international impact—helping to shape the future of offshore energy and marine development. We offer a collaborative, inclusive, and flexible work culture where your expertise will be valued, and your ideas will help drive real change.

Our Commitment to you

Commitment is a powerful word that defines how we do business, how we serve our clients and how we care for one another. We will support your needs by giving you the tools to do your best work and then recognise your achievements. We will set your curiosity free to allow brilliant minds to do their best work. We will invest in new ideas, removing barriers where we can. Finally, we will encourage you to collaborate with thousands of diverse people across our global business.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion lies at the heart of our team culture. We operate a flat intellectual hierarchy meaning every voice is heard and has genuine influence. We believe deeply in diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and experience, and we recognise the value this brings our collective team approach to solving challenging client problems.

Inclusion is hugely important to us, and we want to ensure every team member can balance work around their unique personal circumstances. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a wider variety of benefits to support you, including 25 days paid leave with opportunity to purchase additional leave, matched pension contributions and family‑friendly flexible working. We will advocate for your profession development and provide access to formal education through the GHD Business School and practical application through technical delivery. We actively promote inclusion and equity‑focused initiatives, with the example of our STEMAZING partnership, which offers STEM outreach programmes for women.

Working Location

GHD operates a Hybrid Working Standard across the Enterprise, with a minimum of three days per week at a GHD office. There is a preference for this role to be based in GHD’s London or Guildford offices, although GHD does have a number of other offices across the UK.