Principal Environmental and Sustainability Consultant - Water Resources Planning

Mott Macdonald; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering consultancy is seeking a Principal Environment and Sustainability Consultant in the UK. This role oversees environmental assessments for water sector planning projects, ensuring technical excellence and delivery. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree, experience in strategic water planning, and strong leadership skills in a multi-disciplinary environment. Benefits include private medical insurance, flexible holidays, and ongoing training opportunities, with an emphasis on equality and inclusion.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Health cash plan

Flexible holidays

Pension contribution match

Annual bonus schemes

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience of leading environmental assessments for the water sector or other sectors.
• Experience of strategic water planning such as Water Resource Management Plans.
• Ability to deliver high-quality project outputs and manage budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver environmental workstreams for water planning projects.
• Provide technical leadership to project teams.
• Engage with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders.

Skills

Technical leadership

Client engagement

Project management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related technical subject

Master's degree in a relevant subject

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Environment and Sustainability Consultant. This role focuses on supporting our well‑established water resources planning environmental assessment business. You will lead the environmental workstream for predominantly water sector planning projects, taking responsibility for technical delivery and overseeing project progress. In this role, you will lead multidisciplinary teams, coordinating with technical experts to ensure seamless project delivery and consistently high‑quality outcomes for our key clients. We are preparing for a dynamic AMP8 period with a wealth of forthcoming opportunities and active projects building on our success in AMP7. To support our AMP8 delivery we seek a highly motivated individual to provide technical delivery and technical excellence in environmental assessments across our portfolio of water resource projects. The role can be based at any of our UK offices, with a preference for locations in the South (Cambridge, London, Croydon, Reading, Southampton). The successful candidate will join our Environmental & Sustainability Services (ESS) team, comprising a growing network of environmental and sustainability professionals across 18 offices nationwide.

Responsibilities

• Technical lead and delivery of environmental workstreams for water planning projects, ensuring high quality deliverables
• Providing technical leadership to environmental and sustainability project teams
• Driving technical excellence, innovation and sustainable outcomes
• Technical checker/approver roles
• Client engagement with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders from both the public and private sector

Qualifications

• Experience of leading environmental assessments for the water sector or other sectors
• Experience of strategic water planning such as Water Resource Management Plans, Regional Water Resource Plans, Drought Plans and Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans
• Qualified in a related technical subject (Minimum of a Bachelor's degree essential)
• Experience working in diverse multi‑disciplined teams and leading teams to produce environmental and sustainability deliverables to a high standard
• Experience of working in a client‑facing environment and ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders to deliver positive outcomes
• Well organised with strong planning and management skills, with ability to produce high quality deliverables and manage budgets and projects
• Ability to problem solve, think creatively, and seek continual improvement

Desirable

• Significant experience in one or more of the following: Strategic Environment Assessment, Habitats Regulations Assessment, Natural Capital Assessment
• Qualified to Master's degree level in a relevant subject
• Chartered with a professional institution (e.g., CIWEM, ISEP (previously IEMA)) or equivalent level

Benefits

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.
• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long‑term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.
• A minimum of 33‑35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years' service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers.
• Enhanced family and carers leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self‑development options.
• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at [e-mail] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

Company background

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance - we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee‑owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.