Senior Waste & Resources Consultant

RSK Geosciences; West of England, Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary & Benefits

Flexible benefits package

Pension scheme

Professional development

Job summary

RSK Geosciences’ Waste and Resources team is seeking a Senior Waste and Resources Consultant focused on waste classification to lead technically robust consultancy projects across the UK.

You will manage project scope, programme, budget and client communications, deliver clear waste classification reports in line with WM3, and contribute to broader waste and resources workstreams while supporting business development, mentoring juniors, and expanding the client base.

Qualifications

• Degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Geology or related field.
• Experience managing consultancy or technical projects including scope, programme, budget and client communication.
• Strong technical experience in waste classification with WM3 guidance.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical advice on waste classification and compliance.
• Manage project scope, programme, budget, and deliverables.
• Lead client communication and maintain relationships.
• Review and produce waste classification reports.
• Support invoicing, forecasting, and business development.

Skills

Waste classification

Project management

Client management

Regulatory compliance

Education

Environmental Science / Chemistry / Geology degree

Job description

Senior Waste and Resources Consultant (Waste classification)

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 Senior Waste and Resources Consultant focussing on waste classification and take a key role in a team that’s setting the standard in responsible waste and resource management within the civil engineering and land development sectors.

Why Join Us

At RSK, we are committed to innovation, sustainability, and professional growth. By joining our growing team you will:

• Lead the delivery of technically robust waste consultancy projects, with a principal focus on waste classification and the management of construction, demolition and excavation wastes
• Opportunity to contribute to a wide range of high-profile projects across the UK involving a wide range of waste and resource related disciplines
• 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
• Enjoy work-life balance with flexible working arrangements, typically 1-2 days a week to begin with and ad hoc site visits as required

What You'll Be Doing

As a Senior Consultant, you will take ownership of the management and delivery of waste consultancy projects. The principal technical focus will be the classification of construction, demolition and excavation wastes, with opportunities to contribute to broader waste and resources workstreams where relevant to your experience and development. Your responsibilities include:

• Providing clear technical advice to clients on waste classification, compliance requirements and appropriate management options.
• Project management and delivery:
• Acting as project manager and main client contact for assigned projects
• Defining and managing project scope, programme, budget and deliverables
• Coordinating project teams and allocating work effectively
• Monitoring project risks, actions and changes in scope
• Managing contractual requirements and key performance indicators
• Ensuring technical quality, regulatory compliance and financial performance
• Maintaining strong client relationships and communicating progress clearly
• Supporting invoicing, forecasting and the identification of additional work
• Primary technical focus: waste classification
• Reviewing site investigation and laboratory data to assess the classification of construction, demolition and excavation wastes
• Advising on proportionate sampling and analytical requirements, providing appropriate waste sampling plans
• Undertaking and reviewing waste classification assessments in accordance with Technical Guidance WM3
• Producing clear, robust and auditable factual and interpretative waste classification reports
• Advising clients on appropriate onward management, reuse and disposal options
• Providing technical review and quality assurance of waste classification work completed by others
• Explaining classification decisions, limitations and data gaps clearly to clients and project teams
• Secondary waste and resources workstreams, depending on project needs and your experience, the role may also include:
• Waste management compliance and legislative advice
• Resource efficiency, reuse and circular economy advice including options appraisals and mechanism implementation
• Waste and materials strategies, policies and management plans
• Environmental permits (applications, variations, and surrenders), including standard rules, bespoke and Deposit for Recovery
• Strategic documentation and policy relating to waste and material management
• Waste and resource related planning documentation including Site Waste Management Plans
• Environmental Impact Assessment Material Assets and Waste chapters
• Proactively supporting in marketing and business development activities
• Enhancing and developing 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

Who We're Looking For

We're seeking an experienced professional with background within or related to waste and resources management, ideally relating to the construction, demolition and excavation waste. Ideal candidates will have:

• A degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Geology, or a related discipline
• Demonstrable experience of managing consultancy or comparable technical projects, including scope, programme, budget, quality and client communication
• Strong technical experience in the classification of construction, demolition and excavation wastes alongside practical experience of applying Technical Guidance WM3
• Ability to review chemical and site investigation data and reach clearly evidenced classification decisions
• Good working knowledge of UK waste legislation and relevant regulatory requirements
• Experience of preparing high-quality technical reports and with reviewing the work of others desirable
• Strong client management, commercial awareness and written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities and coordinate contributions from multidisciplinary project teams
• Experience of mentoring or line managing colleagues would be advantageous
• A valid UK driving licence and willingness to travel where required
• Based within an hour of Bristol or 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 skillset
• Flexible benefits package, including annual leave purchase, childcare vouchers, and private healthcare
• Contributory pension scheme
• Support for ongoing professional development, including Chartership and training opportunities
• Opportunities to shape the growth of the Waste and Resources team and make a real impact across diverse, high-profile projects

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 has remained 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?