Senior Consents Project Manager

Ardent; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

Benenden Health Care

Cycle to Work scheme

Electric car leasing

Recognition awards

Long service leave

Discretionary annual bonus scheme

Job summary

Ardent is seeking a Senior Project Manager – Consent Management in Birmingham, offering a hybrid working model (2-3 days in the office). You will lead consent programmes for major infrastructure projects, coordinating planners, engineers, and legal specialists to ensure compliant, timely outcomes.

You will drive risk-based decision making, maintain robust governance, and mentor junior staff while delivering continuous improvements across the consent lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in project management within infrastructure, utilities, or built environment sectors.
• Proven ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams for aligned delivery.
• In-depth understanding of consenting regimes (DCO/TWAO) and related processes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee consent workstreams across DCO, TWAO, and other regimes.
• Coordinate inputs from planning, environment, engineering, land and legal teams.
• Develop and maintain consent programmes, trackers, schedules, and governance tools.
• Support integration of consent requirements into design, procurement and construction.
• Deliver post-consent activities including discharge packages and construction readiness.
• Identify risks and blockers and escalate to strengthen risk management.
• Support stakeholder engagement to improve relationships and project progression.
• Mentor junior team members to build capability and cohesion.
• Drive continuous improvement and standardize consent project management processes.

Skills

Project Management

Team Coordination

Consenting Knowledge

Organizational Skills

Communication

Risk Management

Information Synthesis

Professional Growth

Job description

Full Job Description: Senior Project Manager Full Job Description (May to need be accessed via Desktop or our Careers website: https://www.ardent-management.com/current-vacancies )

Location: Birmingham - Hybrid (2-3 times office)

Full Time

About Us:

Ardent is the UK’s leading provider of land, consent management, and stakeholder engagement services, supporting major infrastructure and regeneration projects from concept to delivery. We are passionate about delivering life-improving change for communities and future generations.

Role Purpose:

As a Senior Project Manager – Consent Management, you will play a vital role in coordinating and delivering processes required to secure, manage, and implement consents across major infrastructure projects. You will lead the day-to-day delivery of consent programmes, working closely with planners, environmental specialists, land referencers, engineers, and legal professionals to ensure that all consent-related activities are managed efficiently and effectively.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage Consent Workstreams: Oversee the delivery of consent-related workstreams across Development Consent Orders (DCO), Transport and Works Act Orders (TWAO), and other major consent regimes, ensuring high-quality and timely outputs.
• Coordinate Multidisciplinary Inputs: Work collaboratively with technical teams including planning, environment, engineering, land, and legal specialists to ensure all deliverables are completed on time, to quality, and aligned with the consent programme.
• Maintain Documentation: Develop and maintain detailed consent programmes, trackers, schedules, and governance tools to ensure effective control of consents and compliance.
• Support Integration: Assist in integrating consent requirements into design, procurement, and construction processes, ensuring that all teams understand constraints, commitments, and obligations.
• Post-Consent Activities: Deliver post-consent activities including requirement/condition discharge packages and construction readiness, ensuring construction teams receive timely approvals and remain compliant.
• Risk Management: Identify risks, blockers, and issues within the consenting workstream and elevate appropriately to reduce delays and strengthen risk management.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Support stakeholder engagement activities led by planners and engagement teams to improve stakeholder relationships and smooth project progression.
• Mentorship: Support the mentoring and coordination of junior team members and project managers to develop capability and strengthen team cohesion.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive continuous improvement and standardization of consent project management processes to increase efficiency, quality, and client satisfaction.

Skills & Experience:

• Project Management: Strong experience in project management, ideally within the infrastructure, utilities, or built environment sectors, ensuring predictable project delivery and improved control of consent programmes.
• Team Coordination: Proven ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams for aligned delivery, resulting in better collaboration and timely outputs.
• Consenting Knowledge: In-depth understanding of the consenting landscape, including DCO/TWAO and other major consents, to increase risk awareness and improve planning and preparation.
• Organizational Skills: Exceptional organizational and analytical skills, with a keen attention to detail to ensure high-quality documentation and strong governance.
• Communication: Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and align stakeholders including clients, consultants, and statutory bodies.
• Risk Management: Experience in managing competing deadlines within a complex environment to ensure predictable delivery and improved efficiency.
• Information Synthesis: Ability to assimilate large quantities of information and prepare presentations that are concise, easily understandable, and engaging.
• Professional Growth: Commitment to continuous learning and development, with experience mentoring or guiding others to enhance team performance and engagement.

Pay Range and Compensation Package:

• 25 days of annual leave (with options to buy or carry over)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Benenden Health Care (mental health support, 24/7 GP services, physiotherapy, optical and dental cover, personal accident protection)
• Cycle to Work scheme, electric car leasing, recognition awards, long service leave, discretionary annual bonus scheme

Equal Opportunity Statement:

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer, and we’re passionate about creating a workplace where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work every day. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team where everyone belongs. We welcome talent from all backgrounds and actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups.