Principal Waste & Resources Consultant

RSK Geosciences; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible benefits package (annual-lea​

Childcare vouchers

Private healthcare

Contributory pension

Leadership training & Chartership

Job summary

RSK Geosciences is seeking a Principal Waste and Resources Consultant to shape strategy and lead high-profile projects across the UK. The role focuses on construction and excavation waste, applying circular economy principles and sustainable resource management.

You’ll build client relationships, develop proposals, and guide a multidisciplinary team across challenging projects. You will contribute to policy, strategy, and business development while mentoring junior colleagues and representing

Qualifications

• Degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Geology or related discipline.
• MSc in a similar field is desirable.
• Chartered status (CIWM, ISEP, or equivalent) or working towards it.
• Extensive experience in waste and resources management with UK waste legislation knowledge.
• Proven project management experience, client liaison, and financial management.

Responsibilities

• Deliver and review technical outputs across construction and excavation waste, waste classification, and circular economy initiatives.
• Project manage medium to large projects, including tendering, budgeting, client liaison, and staffing.
• Drive business development through client relationships, proposals, and on-time, within-budget project delivery.
• Mentor and upskill junior team members and contribute to team growth and leadership.

Skills

Project management

Client relationship management

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science/Environmental Management/Geology

MSc in a related discipline (preferred)

Job description

The Vacancy

Are you passionate about sustainable waste and material management and turning waste into a resource? Do you want to shape strategy, lead high-profile projects, and influence sustainable outcomes across the UK?

Are you passionate about sustainable waste and material management and turning waste into a resource? Do you want to shape strategy, lead high-profile projects, and influence sustainable outcomes across the UK?

Join RSK Geosciences’ Waste and Resources team as a Principal Waste and Resources Consultant. This role will be key in a team that’s setting the standard in responsible waste and resource management within the civil engineering and land development sectors, focussing on construction and excavation waste and resource management.

Why Join Us?

• Lead and deliver impactful projects ranging from compliant waste management through to applying sustainable resource reuse and circular economy principles.
• Continue to grow and develop your skill set in waste and resources management, being able to shape your career path and develop key professional expertise.
• Mentor and support junior colleagues, sharing knowledge and developing their own skill sets.
• Accelerate your professional profile, with opportunities to represent RSK at industry forums and events and lead on business development and marketing initiatives.
• Enjoy work-life balance with flexible working arrangements, typically 1-2 days a week in the office to begin with and ad hoc site visits.
• Enhancing your technical skills and ability across a wide range of waste management projects, with the ability to be involved in new work streams and complex projects.

What You’ll Be Doing

This role will be a key part of the team delivering on a broad range of workstreams primarily relating to construction and excavation waste, and developing client relationships and business development opportunities. Your responsibilities include:

• Based on current experience, being a key part in the delivery and review technical outputs which can involve workstreams such as:
  • Construction and excavation waste classification inline with Technical Guidance WM3
  • Waste and material reuse mechanisms advice, guidance, preparation and implementation
  • Environmental permits (applications, variations, and surrenders), including standard rules, bespoke and Deposit for Recovery relating to a range of waste types
  • Development and review of strategic documentation, policies, processes and procedures relating to waste and material management
  • Application of Circular Economy principles within construction and excavation projects to reduce waste generation, identify resource‑efficiency opportunities, and enhance overall project deliverables
  • Environmental Impact Assessment Material Assets and Waste chapters
  • Advising clients on in‑depth waste legislation and compliance, strategy and policy, and innovative management options to achieve sustainable outcomes.
• Project manage medium to large scale projects involving:
  • Tendering and financial management
  • Acting as key point of contact for the clients
  • Developing strong client relationships to secure future work
  • Managing contractual requirements and key performance indicators
  • Managing resourcing and staffing requirements
• Driving business development through building client relationships and supporting with workstream growth, preparing in‑depth proposals, delivering projects on time and within budget, and contributing to the growth of the Waste & Resources services.
• As required, undertaking management responsibilities and upskilling junior members of the team

Who We’re Looking For

We’re seeking an experienced professional with a strong technical background within waste and resources management, ideally relating to the construction and excavation waste. Ideal candidates will have:

• A degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Geology, or a related discipline. MSc in similar desired.
• Extensive experience in waste and resources management, especially relating to the assessment and waste classification of excavation wastes, with strong knowledge of UK waste legislation and policy.
• Proven project management experience involving delivering projects on time and in budget, client liaison and contractual and financial management.
• Proven ability to manage and deliver complex projects and develop client relationships.
• Experience in management of other team members.
• Chartered status (CIWM, ISEP, or equivalent) or working towards it.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem‑solving skills.
• A proactive, strategic mindset with the ability to innovate and inspire.
• A valid UK driving licence and flexibility to travel.
• Ideally based within an hour of Manchester

What’s in it for You?

At RSK, we invest in our people. You can expect:

• Competitive salary and benefits, reflecting your experience and leadership role.
• Flexible benefits package, including annual leave purchase, childcare vouchers, and private healthcare.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Support for ongoing professional development, including Chartership and leadership training.
• Opportunities to shape the growth of the Waste & Resources team and make a real impact across diverse, high‑profile projects.

All candidates applying for positions with RSK Group must be eligible to work in the UK/European Economic Area. Candidates should confirm this when applying with their CV and covering letter.

RSK is committed to our Corporate Responsibility strategy. We seek to minimise our impact on the environment; to engage positively with the community and education groups; to provide a safe and supportive atmosphere in which to work; and to promote Corporate Responsibility throughout our supply chain.

About Us

We are a market‑leading site investigation, contaminated land and geotechnical consultancy with geophysics and survey teams and waste management consultants, operating from 20 UK locations. Our company also includes Leap Environmental, an award‑winning site investigation, geotechnical design and geoenvironmental consultancy and Carbon Zero Consulting, which undertakes appraisals for ground source heat projects.

Throughout our 30 years of operations, we have enabled our clients to realise opportunities and manage the potential liabilities associated with acquiring, owning, operating and developing land. Our clients come from the public and private sectors, including many of the UK’s leading property developers, major and local house builders, utility providers and main contractors, local authorities and other government organisations.

RSK Geosciences 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 remains 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.

By providing workplace adjustments, we make it easier for people to confidently explore and pursue our career opportunities and recognise that flexibility is key to fostering a dynamic and thriving workplace. Many of our office‑based positions benefit from a flexible working arrangement, allowing our team members to achieve a balance between professional and personal commitments.

We actively encourage applications from candidates of all genders, races, ethnicities, ages, neurotypes, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, and those with disabilities.

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?