Principal Environmental Consultant

Mott MacDonald; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Flexible benefits

Employee ownership

Annual bonus schemes

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Principal Environmental Consultant to lead multi-disciplinary teams on environmental and sustainability projects across the UK. You will drive EIA processes, coordinate specialists, and ensure high-quality environmental deliverables for major infrastructure schemes.

You will influence client and regulatory stakeholders, manage budgets, and mentor junior staff within a flexible, hybrid work environment. A chartered status and strong communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Strong IT skills.
• Excellent self-starting capabilities.
• Flexibility to spend time away from home base as needed.
• Line management experience would be advantageous.
• Commercial awareness and experience with budgets as part of project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate projects from feasibility and environmental appraisal to full EIA for planning applications.
• Manage project teams, scope and deliver environmental appraisals and assessments.
• Program EIA processes and manage environmental risk; coordinate environmental, social and sustainability specialists.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to junior staff; perform project reviews and quality checks.

Skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Self-starter

Flexibility

Line management

Commercial awareness

Education

Relevant academic qualifications

Chartered status

Job description

Location/s: London, Bristol, Southampton, Reading, Birmingham, Cambridge, Cardiff, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle; UK

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.

About The Division

Environmental and social considerations are central to Mott MacDonald’s Purpose and its offerings across all sectors and territories. Our environment and social business provides essential services and innovative solutions which anticipate our clients' needs across all sectors.

Overview Of The Role

As a Principal Environmental Consultant, you will work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team, alongside engineers, town planners and a range of environmental and social specialists. Your role will include leading and coordinating projects from early stage feasibility and environmental appraisal to full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of planning applications across a range of regimes. You will be responsible for the management of project teams, undertaking scoping, preparation and delivery of environmental appraisals and assessments, programming EIA processes, environmental risk management and the co-ordination of environmental, social and sustainability specialists. You will be required to undertake technical checks and approvals of environmental and sustainability deliverables and undertake project reviews in line with our business and environmental management systems.

Core skills applicable to this role include the ability to influence the interests of clients, stakeholders, regulators and other government agencies, while communicating with the team to ensure project-related environmental and sustainability concerns/ opportunities are identified and addressed. You will have the opportunity to influence decision making and integrate sustainability into the design process. You will advocate for solutions that focus on a place-based approach to support our clients achieve their net zero carbon commitments, delivery of nature-based solutions and becoming climate resilient.

As a key member of the Environmental and Sustainability Services team, you will engage with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders, from both the public and private sector. This could be via public consultation events, stakeholder workshops, public inquiries or industry events. You will be involved in monitoring resources, managing budgets, guiding staff, undertaking project management, assisting with contract and risk management and attendance at client meetings. You will also be involved in the preparation of fee estimates, proposal writing and general business development activities, as well as providing technical guidance and mentoring of more junior staff members. There will also be opportunities to take on line management duties for less experienced staff within the team, with responsibilities including helping them manage their workloads, aiding with their technical development and looking out for their wellbeing in the working environment.

Candidate specification

• Relevant academic/professional qualifications
• Chartership through a relevant organisation
• Demonstrable knowledge of EIA and relevant legislation in the UK. Experience of working on DCO schemes would be beneficial
• A successful track record in project and construction environmental management, working with design teams to deliver large infrastructure projects
• Flexibility in your approach to work, available to spend time away from your home base as needed
• The ability to manage your own work and that of others, whilst being an integral member of a wider project team
• Line management experience would be advantageous
• Commercial awareness and experience with managing budgets as part of project delivery
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills
• Strong IT skills
• Excellent 'self-starting' capabilities

We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

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.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people-first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to feel supported and able to perform at your best throughout our recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to make applying or interviewing with us more accessible, please contact us at [e-mail] and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help.

We offer some fantastic benefits including

Financial wellbeing

• 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.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day 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.

Lifestyle

• 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.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• 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

• Enhanced family 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.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• 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.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Location(s):

London, GB Southampton, GB Cambridge, GB Bristol, GB Manchester, GB Leeds, GB Newcastle Upon Tyne, GB Sheffield, GB Cardiff, GB Birmingham, GB Reading, GB

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Water

Discipline: Environment

Job Ref: 17556