Principal Land Access Consultant

Ardent Management; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ardent is seeking a Principal Land Access Consultant to lead the Land Referencing Directorate, delivering life-improving change for communities and future generations across major infrastructure and regeneration projects in the UK and Ireland.

The role focuses on people leadership, inclusivity, quality outcomes, and strong client engagement. It offers hybrid working across Birmingham, London, Manchester and Leeds with a commitment to safety and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Help boost team engagement by suggesting and supporting targeted initiatives.
• Liaising with landowners and colleagues, advising technically on land referencing outputs to clients and junior members of the team.
• Strengthen relationships and improve delivery for the client, resulting in smoother project delivery and reduced conflicts through a project lifecycle.
• Provide guidance and advice to clients in a technical capacity, demonstrating leadership traits including taking ownership of tasks.
• Demonstrates the ability to align communication efforts with the organisation's goals and strategies.

Job description

Job Descrip on

Role Informa on

Job Title Principal Land Access Consultant

Directorate (and Team) Land Referencing

Location (supported by Hybrid Working) Birmingham/ London/ Manchester/ Leeds

Full Time or Part Time Full time

Company Overview

Ardent is the UK’s leading provider of land, consent management and stakeholder engagement services to support major infrastructure and regeneration projects from concept to delivery.We are Project Managers, Chartered Surveyors, Engagement specialists and Land Referencers, based in London, Birmingham, Warrington, Leeds, Glasgow and Dublin and supporting projects throughout the UK and Ireland.Established in 1992, we are a high-growth business with a client portfolio that includes some of the biggest players across our four core sectors of transport, renewables, utilities and regeneration.We are passionate about delivering life-improving change for communities and future generations and we are proud to play a key role in facilitating and delivering the UK and Ireland’s net zero and growth agendas, improving connectivity, enabling the repurposing of high streets and town centres and delivering new homes.We are problem-solvers that are outcome focused working collaboratively with our clients to provide strategic advice and services that identify and mitigate risks, deliver efficiencies, delivering buildable consents and then implementing those consents to positively change people’s lives and the world that we live in.

Role Purpose

Our Ardent purpose is - Delivering life improving change for communities and future generations.

The Principal Consultant role at Ardent exists to drive and deliver life-improving change for communities and future generations. As a pivotal figure within the organisation, this position ensures that Ardent remains at the forefront of supporting major infrastructure and regeneration projects across the UK and Ireland.

Expected outcomes from someone joining in this capacity include enhanced team engagement, a focus on quality, improved commercial performance, and a steadfast commitment to health, safety, and wellbeing. Additionally, the role champions inclusivity by fostering a culture where diversity and equality are not only respected but prioritised, making Ardent a workplace where everyone can thrive.The Principal Consultant’s leadership is expected to inspire a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and positive change throughout the organisation.

Key performance indicators for this role centre around people leadership—measured by engagement levels, commercial success, quality of technical output and the maintenance of a safe and supportive working environment. Ensuring inclusivity is a core metric, ensuring that the workplace remains welcoming and fair for all. Metrics for people leadership further include a commitment to learning, aligned with Ardent’s value of a ‘Thirst for Knowledge’, promoting ongoing professional development and continuous improvement. Furthermore, adherence to the Quality Management System (QMS) ensures that all work meets the highest standards, supporting Ardent’s reputation for excellence and reliability in the delivery of its services.

Values Alignment & Shared Commitment

The Principal Consultant is an ambassador of the Ardent values, promoting a culture of integrity, collaboration and excellence, inspiring a commitment to inclusivity, change and innovation.

Thirst for knowledge - We embrace every opportunity to learn, grow and continuously improve Own it - We do what we say we will do. We own our individual actions, are accountable for them,

and take pride in adding value Be the difference - Focus energy to make things happen. Go beyond process. Stand up, Stand out Enjoy the journey - Have fun, be engaged and be proud to be Ardent Adapt - We drive change and innovation to deliver growth and new opportunities in an ever

changing world

Key Accountabilities, Responsibilities & Outcomes

Accountabilities and / or Responsibilities Outcome

Help boost team engagement by suggestingand supporting targeted initiatives, keepingtrack of progress regularly, and contributing toa welcoming and inclusive work environment

Support the assistant people leader in surpassingengagement and inclusivity KPIs.

Liaising with landowners and colleagues,advising technically on land referencingtechnical outputs to clients and juniormembers of the team.

Strengthen relationships and improve delivery for theclient, resulting in smoother project delivery andreduced conflicts through a projects lifecycle.Directorates and increasing awareness and position ofLand Referencing team within the project team andwider business

Develops skills in assessing client needs andunderstanding their objectives in order toproactively advise on next steps and/or toforesee and mitigate risks or identifyopportunities. Provide guidance and advice toclients in a technical capacity, demonstratingleadership traits including taking ownership oftasks.

Display confidence in advising and reporting to clientsand inputting to client meetings in a manner thatfosters client confidence and help to develop apositive working relationship.

Demonstrates the ability to manage andresolve conflicts diplomatically, finding

Develop the ability to align communicationefforts with the organisation's goals andstrategies.

Offer valuable support and recognise when it'simportant to help peers and supporting the PeopleLeader in delivering the Directorate and teamobjectives.

Accountabilities and / or Responsibilities Outcome

Engages their team as an Assistant Peopleembodying the Ardent vision, anddemonstrating a comprehensiveunderstanding of what it means to be an

Embracing a coaching and learning culture,role modelling those behaviours, activelyengaged as a Coach, and supporting thedevelopment of junior team members

By engaging their team as an Assistant People Leader,consistently embodying the Ardent vision anddemonstrating all facets of effective leadership—including embracing a coaching and learning cultureand actively serving as a Coach—the followingoutcomes are achieved:

Teams experience increased motivation andengagement, leading to improved overallperformance.

The adoption of a coaching and learning culturefosters ongoing professional development, resulting inenhanced skills and capabilities within the team.

Promote a culture of wellness within yourteam to identify health and wellbeing earlyand proactively engage with People & Cultureto address any concerns.

By championing best practice health and safetybehaviours and fostering a culture of wellness withinthe team, People Leaders / Assistant People Leaderscreate an environment where risks are identified andaddressed proactively.

Prompt reporting of near misses and accidentsensures swift resolution and continuous improvementin safety standards. Early identification of health andwellbeing issues, coupled with proactive engagementwith People & Culture, leads to improved overallwellbeing, enhanced team morale, and reduced

Encourages regular communications on Health& Safety issues and performance within yourteams.

Responsibility for ensuring team membershave the right PPE and resources when

By encouraging regular communication regardingHealth & Safety issues and performance and ensuringthat all team members are equipped with appropriatePPE and necessary resources when working on site.This leads to enhanced awareness and adherence to

Accountabilities and / or Responsibilities Outcome

working out on site, meeting bothorganisational and client objectives.

safety standards, a reduction in workplace incidents,and improved overall team wellbeing. The outcome isa safer, more compliant working environment thatsupports employee welfare and organisationalobjectives.

Competency, Skills & Experience Outcome

Experienced in building effective workingrelationships with clients and otherstakeholders, both internally and externally.

Enhance cross-functional teamwork and faster, morealigned decision-making, leading to increased projectefficiency, resulting in improved team collaborationand strategic alignment across projects and increased

Help inspire, develop, and empower highperforming teams

Assist in fostering a high performing, engaged teambyenhancing productivity and promoting a culture oftrust and accountability

Ability to identify the need for new resourcewithin your team with consideration for thewider resource requirements of theDirectorate. Capable of sourcing candidatesfor these positions by building networkswithin the industry.

Demonstrates strong strategic workforce planning byproactively identifying and addressing resource gapswithin the team,