Principal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Consultant

Ciwmjobs; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Annual leave 24 days (+ buy up to 10)

Pension contributions up to 10%

Private medical cover

Digital GP

Family planning support

Parental leave enhancements

Employee networks

Life assurance 4x salary

Income protection

Wellbeing programs

Professional memberships funded

Volunteer time & charity funding

Hybrid working

40-hour week

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Principal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Consultant to lead EIA and consenting workstreams on major UK infrastructure, water, energy and environmental projects. You will guide multidisciplinary teams, provide strategic advice to clients, and help secure consents while delivering sustainable development.

Based in a collaborative, hybrid environment, you’ll advance your career through high‑profile assignments across Reading, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, London, Bristol

Qualifications

• Proven EIA delivery with infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of UK planning and environmental legislation.
• Experience with DCO or Town & Country Planning regimes.
• Professional membership or chartership encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Lead EIA and consenting workstreams.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary project teams.
• Provide strategic environmental advice to clients.
• Develop client relationships and influence outcomes.

Skills

EIA delivery

Environmental planning

Stakeholder engagement

Client liaison

Project leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Degree in environmental science/planning

Chartered membership preferred

Tools

GIS

Job description

Principal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Consultant Help shape the projects that will define the UK's future.

As a Principal EIA Consultant at Jacobs, you'll be at the forefront of major infrastructure, water, energy, and environmental projects that improve lives, support net zero ambitions, and create long-term benefits for communities across the UK and Ireland.

This is more than producing Environmental Impact Assessments. You'll influence critical decisions from the earliest project stages, helping clients navigate complex environmental difficulties, secure consents, and deliver sustainable development responsibly.

From renewable energy and hydrogen projects to nationally significant infrastructure schemes, your expertise will help bring transformative projects to life while protecting the environments and communities they serve.

What's In It For You

If you're looking for bigger projects, greater influence, and a clear route to progression, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for.

At Jacobs, you'll enjoy:

• Leading high-profile, nationally significant infrastructure projects
• Working with the top clients in the industry, including National Grid, Environment Agency, National Highways, Network Rail and major water utilities
• A clear pathway to further technical and management progression
• The freedom to shape project strategy and client outcomes
• A collaborative, supportive and inclusive team where your ideas are valued
• Most importantly, you'll join a business that invests in your growth, encourages you to flourish, and gives you the platform to make a meaningful impact.

We Offer

• Compensation that reflects your skills and experience
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• 24 days annual leave plus the option to buy up to 10 additional days
• Enhanced pension contributions of up to 10%
• Private medical cover and Digital GP access
• Family planning and fertility support services
• Enhanced parental leave and family support programmes
• Employee Networks: We have a commitment to hiring a diverse workforce and supporting colleagues of different backgrounds
• Life assurance at four times your salary
• Income protection for long-term financial security
• Access to wellbeing support, including Cal and Daily Burn
• Professional memberships funded and ongoing development opportunities
• Paid volunteering time, matched charity funding, and community engagement programmes
• Jacobs offers hybrid working and a standard 40-hour working week

About the Opportunity

Our Water & Environment business is recognised as a driver in environmental consultancy, supporting some of the most exciting and complex projects across the UK and Europe.

Due to continued growth, we're looking for talented Principal EIA Consultants to join our Environmental Planning team.

You'll lead environmental assessment and consenting workstreams, coordinate multidisciplinary project teams, provide strategic advice to clients, and play a key role in delivering successful project outcomes.

Our portfolio spans:

• Renewable energy and hydrogen
• Water and water resource management
• Utilities and transmission infrastructure
• Rail and transport
• Major developments and nationally significant infrastructure projects

Working alongside planners, engineers, environmental specialists and technical experts, you'll guide projects from early feasibility and strategy through to consent, delivery and implementation.

This is an opportunity to build trusted client relationships, mentor emerging talent, and help shape the future direction of projects that matter. The ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage projects effectively

Proven experience delivering Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and environmental coordination on infrastructure projects

Strong knowledge of environmental assessment methodologies and UK environmental legislation

Experience working within UK planning and consenting frameworks, including DCO, Town & Country Planning, or similar regimes

Strong client-facing and stakeholder engagement skills

Professional membership or chartership with a relevant institution (such as IES, ISEP or CIWEM), or a desire to achieve this with our support

A degree or master's qualification in a relevant environmental, planning or scientific discipline, or equivalent experience

We're looking for experienced EIA professionals who can confidently lead projects and influence outcomes.

This is your chance to work on projects that shape the future, tackle some of society's biggest environmental challenges, and accelerate your career with one of the industry's most respected consultancies.

Locations

• Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
• Glasgow, Lanarkshire, United Kingdom
• Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
• Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
• London, Greater London, United Kingdom
• Bristol, Bristol City, United Kingdom
• Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we've gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You'll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you'll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals - all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we're more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.