Principal Environmental Economist - Water

Binnies; Wetherden; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible working (hybrid)

Private Health Insurance

Cycle to Work Scheme

Annual Leave Purchase

Job summary

Binnies is seeking a Principal Environmental Economist to lead economic appraisals and nature-based solutions across water and catchment projects. You will translate national ambitions into investable catchment-scale opportunities, applying natural capital, CBA and multi-criteria analyses.

You will collaborate with engineers, ecologists and policymakers to deliver robust outputs, support LNRS/BNG initiatives, and drive client-focused solutions. Flexible, hybrid working offered.

Qualifications

• Experience applying natural capital approaches to water resources and catchments.
• Familiarity with Biodiversity Net Gain, LNRS, and ELM concepts.
• Ability to translate policy ambitions into practical, investable solutions.
• Strong skills in cost benefit analysis and multi-criteria assessment.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor teams in multidisciplinary settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead natural capital and nature markets projects for diverse clients.
• Apply and advance mapping, modelling and valuation techniques.
• Develop and deliver policy-aligned catchment strategies.
• Ensure outputs meet regulatory standards and are accessible to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Support bid development and client solutions in land-use and nature markets.
• Mentor colleagues and build capability within the team.

Skills

Natural capital assessment

Ecosystem services

Cost benefit analysis

Multi-criteria analysis

Policy translation

Stakeholder engagement

Technical reporting

Cross-disciplinary teamwork

Education

Environmental degree

Chartered professional member

Tools

GIS

Job description

The Vacancy

Binnies is a world-leader in Environmental and Critical Human Infrastructure projects in the Water and Flood Risk Management sector delivering exciting projects for clients including the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Local Authorities and Water Utility Companies. Our team also works on other large infrastructure projects across sectors such as transport and renewable energy.

We are looking for a Principal Environmental Economist to take a leading role in delivering and shaping our growing portfolio of water and catchment work where we are developing and testing innovative approaches to catchment management and providing nature-based solutions via blue-green infrastructure to the water industry. The role will also cover the economic appraisal of flood schemes and large water company infrastructure projects.

You would become an integral part of our multi-disciplinary National Environmental Services Team. We would be happy to welcome you into one of our offices in Redhill/London, Bradford on Avon, Swansea, Birmingham or Chester and offer flexible working.

About The Role

As a Principal Environmental Economist within our Water and Catchments team, you will provide a leading role in economic appraisals of water resources and water quality schemes as well as flood schemes, through the application of natural capital approaches, cost benefit assessments and multi-criteria analysis.

The role will also require you to help translate national ambitions, such as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs), Environmental Land Management (ELM), and wider land use frameworks into practical, investable solutions at catchment and landscape scale.

Working at the intersection of natural capital, policy, and delivery, you will help lead and support projects that unlock environmental and commercial value from nature-based solutions in support of Binnies’ Solutions By Nature business; a joint venture providing nature-based solutions via blue-green infrastructure to the water industry. This includes enabling high-integrity habitat creation, nutrient neutrality solutions, carbon and biodiversity markets, and integrated catchment management approaches aligned to water company, infrastructure and public sector priorities.

You will be able to combine technical expertise in natural capital assessment and ecosystem services with a strategic, market-facing mindset, helping clients navigate regulatory change and capitalise on emerging opportunities in nature markets.

You will be responsible for:

• Helping lead Natural Capital and Nature Market projects across a diverse client base, including water companies, infrastructure providers, developers, landowners and public bodies, with a focus on aligning delivery to BNG, LNRS priorities and wider policy drivers;
• Adapting and applying environmental appraisal approaches to assess the costs and benefits of a range of solutions to meet environmental regulatory requirements covering catchment management options, engineering solutions and flood scheme appraisal;
• Applying and advancing natural capital approaches, including mapping, modelling and valuation, to support strategic decision‑making, catchment planning and the development of investable nature‑based solutions;
• Integrating ecological and environmental data into natural capital frameworks, working closely with ecology and environmental specialists to ensure robust, policy‑compliant outputs that support BNG delivery, habitat creation, and long‑term monitoring;
• Supporting the development and delivery of LNRS‑aligned and catchment‑based strategies, helping clients prioritise interventions that deliver multiple benefits across biodiversity, water, climate and natural capital outcomes;
• Driving high‑quality technical reporting and stakeholder engagement, ensuring outputs reflect best practice, emerging standards (e.g. BNG metrics, natural capital accounting) and are accessible to both technical and non‑technical audiences;
• Contributing to a wide range of environmental projects, including biodiversity net gain strategies, habitat restoration, nutrient management, and wider nature‑based solutions for major infrastructure and water sector programmes;
• Supporting and mentoring colleagues, helping to build capability in natural capital, catchment planning and nature markets across the team;
• Playing a supporting role in business development, including identifying opportunities linked to land‑use change, nature markets and policy drivers, supporting bids, and helping shape innovative client solutions;
• Contributing to thought leadership and innovation, helping position the business at the forefront of natural capital, nature markets and sustainable land use in line with UK policy direction.

About You

Required experience:

• Experience in implementing the natural capital approach (NCA);
• A sound appreciation of key drivers, guidance, tools and approaches relating to the NCA and environmental options appraisal including cost benefit assessment cost effectiveness analysis and multi‑criteria assessment;
• Understanding of environmental economics, tools and principles for investment cases;
• Experience of building water related benefits or biodiversity into NCAs;
• Working with cross discipline teams including engineers, landscape architects, hydrologists and ecologists;
• Knowledge of BNG and other nature markets;
• Knowledge of natural capital/ecosystem services spatial modelling;
• Strong research skills i.e. rapid evidence reviews, synthesis of material into key findings;
• Strong presentation and stakeholder engagement skills.

Desired experience:

• Experience with mapping and GIS;
• Experience of being a technical lead for small to medium multidisciplinary projects;
• Knowledge or experience of automating or modelling for NCAs;
• Knowledge of Local Nature Recovery Strategies.

Qualifications/Requirements

The role is suitable for an experienced Environmental professional with full professional membership. In addition to the required knowledge and experience listed above, you should possess and be able to demonstrate the following qualifications, skills and knowledge:

• An environmental related degree;
• Chartered with a relevant institute;
• Knowledge of the water sector and its regulatory framework;
• Successful track record in technically managing and delivering projects, working with inter‑disciplinary teams;
• The ability to successfully manage technical project teams and be an integral member of the wider environmental team;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Hold a full UK driving licence;
• Previous experience of working in a consultancy environment.

Why Join Us

Would you like to work in a business where you feel empowered to grow? Where there is no place for criticism or discrimination? A place where people are mindful and respectful? If so, then Binnies is the place for you.

We have a strong 'ENGAGED' culture that runs through everything we do. Evolved over 100 years, we have a culture of caring, where our employee’s wellbeing and work‑life balance are priorities, in fact we have industry leading flexible and hybrid working arrangements. We pride ourselves on providing an inclusive working environment, where a diverse workforce is supported to grow and develop.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Flexible working (part time available, remote working, nine day fortnight)
• Flexible benefits e.g. buy annual leave, varying pension contributions, options for private healthcare
• Private Health Insurance
• Income Protection
• High Street Vouchers
• Life Assurance
• Annual Leave Purchase
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Discounted Gym Membership
• Mental Health Support
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme

About Us

We develop intelligent solutions using our award‑winning integrated planning and design approach to deliver functional infrastructure and lasting environmental and social legacies. This is backed by a culture that has stayed true since our foundation over 100 years ago. We create new possibilities for humanity through our innovative approach to delivery.

Together with our clients, we are always striving to find a smarter way to deliver projects. From providing low carbon, sustainable and resilient water solutions, flood alleviation and environment services, to connecting people with insights and data. Our business exists to improve the quality of life for our local communities today and for generations to come.

Binnies is part of the RSK Group, a leading integrated environmental, engineering, and technical services business providing dynamic, multidisciplinary services to a wide range of sectors. RSK was founded in 1989 and has grown considerably since then.

At RSK, we operate as a group of businesses that work together seamlessly, aiming for growth through diversification. Our strategy helps us build a strong and resilient business, capable of weathering external challenges, while also providing greater value to our clients and more opportunities for our employees.

Since the beginning, our philosophy has remained the same: employ, develop and reward talented individuals. People are crucial to our company, and we recognise that our success hinges on our colleagues' growth. We're committed to preserving RSK's people‑first culture, promoting innovation, and fostering a supportive and caring environment for collaboration. At RSK, we want you to be part of our successes and help you reach your career aspirations. We take pride in offering employees fulfilling and challenging careers by promoting ongoing growth and empowering individuals to excel.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We firmly believe that embracing and celebrating the diversity in our workforce makes us a stronger and more innovative company.

If you're passionate about making a difference, join us as we work together to build a brighter, more equitable, and sustainable future for all. Do you have what it takes?

Sectors

Environment

We create sustainable critical infrastructure across the whole asset life cycle to meet the net zero challenge. We integrate sustainability into everything we do, utilising digital innovation to create value. We de‑risk projects through collaborative engagement and holistic thinking which builds inclusive wealth for our clients, stakeholders and communities.

Water

We are engaged in every aspect of the water industry, helping clients efficiently and effectively collect, store, move and treat water and wastewater; plan and manage watersheds; harness the energy embedded in the treatment and movement of water and enhance sustainability. We incorporate leading‑edge digital transformation to create more resilient and reliable solutions using data analytics to provide powerful insights.