Principal Environmental Permitting Consultant

WSP; Manchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Purpose-driven work

Inclusive culture

Career growth

Collaborative team

Job summary

WSP in Manchester is seeking a Principal Environmental Permitting Consultant to lead complex permitting, compliance and regulatory projects for a diverse client base across energy, waste, industrial and utilities sectors.

You will provide technical leadership on major projects, oversee permit applications and risk assessments, and mentor junior team members while fostering long-term client relationships. This role places you at the heart of national infrastructure and sustainability initiatives.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in environmental permitting, compliance, and regulatory frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead preparation and delivery of complex permit applications and regulatory submissions.
• Strong ability to manage multiple projects, budgets and programmes.
• Experience developing and maintaining trusted client relationships.
• Chartered status or membership in a professional institution, or a clear pathway towards it.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of complex permitting, compliance and regulatory projects.
• Oversee preparation of Environmental Permit applications and supporting reports.
• Mentor and support the development of junior team members.
• Manage project delivery with multidisciplinary teams and budgets.
• Build and maintain long-term client relationships.

Skills

Environmental permitting

Regulatory frameworks

Permit applications

Client relationship management

Project leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Chartered status / professional membership

Job description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects, and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

As we deliver on our growth strategy, the range of services we provide and the work we deliver is expanding. We are looking for talented people with experience delivering these services to join our established Environmental Permitting, Compliance & Nuclear Regulation team at Senior Consultant and Principal Consultant grades.

A little more about your role…

As a Principal Environmental Permitting Consultant, you will play a leading role in the delivery of complex permitting, compliance and regulatory projects across a diverse client base within the energy, energy transition, waste, industrial, manufacturing and utilities sectors.

You will provide technical leadership on major projects, oversee the preparation of Environmental Permit applications, including supporting reports such as environmental risk assessments and management plans, undertake legal compliance and audit assessments, and act as a trusted advisor to clients navigating regulatory requirements.

Working closely with multidisciplinary teams across WSP, you will manage project delivery, support business development activities, and help build and maintain long-term client relationships. You will also mentor and support the development of junior team members, sharing your technical expertise and industry knowledge.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence nationally significant infrastructure and environmental projects while helping shape the future growth of our Environmental Permitting, Compliance & Nuclear Regulation team.

Your Team

You will be welcomed to an established and highly capable and growing team of twenty-five Environmental Permitting experts at various stages of their careers, presenting opportunities to both mentor/guide early career professionals alongside the opportunity to learn from highly experienced experts.

The Environmental Permitting, Compliance & Nuclear Regulation team sits within a wider Sustainable Resources Discipline of over 100 specialists working across a variety of sectors providing deep and broad technical advisory services to translate sustainability strategy into compliant, resilient, low-risk operational change, to make sustainability real.

Our main hub for Environmental Permitting, Compliance & Nuclear Regulation is in Manchester, though we have members of the team across many of WSP’s 30 offices throughout the UK.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

We welcome applications from a range of consulting, regulatory and industry backgrounds.

You will ideally be able to demonstrate:

• Extensive experience working within environmental permitting, compliance and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong technical expertise in Environmental Permitting Regulations, associated guidance and environmental policy.
• Proven experience leading the preparation and delivery of complex permit applications and regulatory submissions.
• The ability to manage multiple projects, budgets and programmes of work effectively.
• Experience developing and maintaining trusted client relationships.
• Strong commercial awareness and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for growth.
• Experience mentoring, coaching and supporting the development of colleagues.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage confidently with clients, regulators and project teams.
• Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional institution, or a clear pathway towards achieving it.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact.

• Purpose-driven work: Contribute to nationally significant projects and the UK’s net zero ambitions.‑zero ambitions.
• Inclusive culture: Work with a diverse group of professionals who value each other’s unique strengths.
• Career growth: Access sector experts, mentoring, structured development pathways and opportunities across more than 70,000 colleagues globally.
• Collaborative team: Join a friendly, respected, and expanding environmental permitting and compliance community that supports your success at every stage.

We encourage applicants from all backgrounds, including those returning to work after career breaks, those seeking flexible working arrangements, and individuals looking to transfer experience from other regulated industries.