Associate director - eia / dco

Are you an experienced environmental assessment professional with a strong background in Development Consent Orders (DCOs), looking for an opportunity to lead major infrastructure projects, develop client relationships and help shape the future of environmental consenting? We’re looking for an Associate Director – EIA / DCO to join our growing environmental team in Bristol, London or Reading.

This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in delivering environmental assessment and consenting services across a diverse portfolio of nationally significant infrastructure and major development projects. You’ll work across sectors including energy, water, transport and critical infrastructure, helping clients navigate complex planning and consenting requirements while ensuring environmental considerations are embedded throughout the project lifecycle.

Working alongside planners, environmental specialists, engineers and other technical experts, you’ll lead multidisciplinary teams, provide strategic environmental advice and support clients through the DCO process, from early project development and assessment through to submission and examination. As an Associate Director, you’ll combine technical leadership with project and commercial management, building strong client relationships, identifying new opportunities and supporting the development of colleagues. You’ll also play an important role in growing our environmental assessment and consenting capabilities across the UK.

About The Role:

• Lead the delivery of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for Development Consent Order (DCO) applications and other major infrastructure projects.
• Provide strategic advice to clients on environmental assessment, consenting strategy and the management of complex environmental issues throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead EIA and consenting workstreams from project inception and scoping through assessment, consultation, Environmental Statement preparation, submission and examination.
• Advise on the application of the Planning Act 2008, relevant EIA legislation and associated planning and consenting requirements.
• Oversee the preparation, coordination and quality assurance of Environmental Statements, scoping reports, preliminary environmental information, consultation materials and other supporting documentation.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary technical teams, ensuring environmental assessments are robust, proportionate and aligned with project design, programme and consenting requirements.
• Lead the management of environmental risks, constraints, interfaces and dependencies, developing practical solutions to support project delivery and successful consenting outcomes.
• Provide guidance on consultation responses, statutory consultee engagement, relevant representations, examination questions and requests for further environmental information.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, planning consultants, statutory consultees, regulators, local authorities and other key stakeholders.
• Oversee project delivery, including budgets, resources, programmes, commercial performance and technical quality, ensuring projects meet client expectations and agreed objectives.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen client relationships, develop existing accounts and secure new work across the infrastructure and environmental sectors.
• Lead and contribute to bids, tenders, proposals and business development activities, helping to grow our EIA and DCO services.
• Support the development and implementation of strategic plans for the continued growth of our environmental assessment and consenting capability.
• Mentor and develop colleagues, providing technical leadership, sharing knowledge and supporting career progression across the wider team.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across our planning, environmental and engineering disciplines to deliver integrated solutions for complex infrastructure challenges.

Your Impact:

You’ll play a key role in helping clients navigate the environmental and consenting challenges associated with nationally significant infrastructure projects. Through your technical expertise, leadership and commercial awareness, you’ll help deliver robust environmental assessments and consenting strategies that support informed decision-making and successful project outcomes. You’ll influence how environmental considerations are addressed from the earliest stages of project development through to submission and examination, helping clients balance infrastructure needs with environmental responsibility.

As an Associate Director, you’ll take ownership of major project relationships, oversee complex workstreams and support the delivery of high-quality, commercially successful projects. You’ll also contribute to the strategic growth of our environmental business, identifying new opportunities and strengthening our position across key infrastructure sectors. Working within a multidisciplinary organisation, you’ll have access to specialists across a broad range of environmental and engineering disciplines. This collaborative environment will enable you to develop integrated solutions, share expertise and help shape the future of our EIA and DCO capability across the UK.

About You:

We’re looking for an established environmental assessment professional with significant experience in EIA and a strong understanding of the DCO process. You’ll be confident leading complex infrastructure projects, advising clients at a senior level and coordinating multidisciplinary teams, while bringing the commercial awareness and leadership skills needed to support business growth.

You’ll have:

• Significant experience in environmental consultancy, EIA and environmental consenting, with a strong track record in major infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrable experience leading or managing EIA for DCO applications and nationally significant infrastructure projects.
• A strong understanding of the DCO consenting process under the Planning Act 2008, including application preparation, submission and examination.
• Extensive experience overseeing the preparation, coordination and review of Environmental Statements and associated environmental assessment documentation.
• A detailed understanding of UK environmental assessment legislation, planning policy, consenting requirements and relevant guidance.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating inputs across environmental topics, project design and consenting workstreams.
• The ability to provide strategic environmental advice, identify and manage consenting risks, and develop effective solutions to complex project challenges.
• Proven project and commercial management skills, including responsibility for budgets, resources, programmes and project performance.
• Experience developing and maintaining senior client relationships, with the confidence to provide trusted advice and influence project decisions.
• A track record of contributing to business development, including identifying opportunities, developing client accounts and preparing successful bids and proposals.
• Strong leadership and people development skills, with experience mentoring colleagues and supporting the growth of technical capability within a team.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage confidently with clients, regulators and multidisciplinary project teams.
• A collaborative and commercially minded approach, with a genuine commitment to sustainable development and delivering positive environmental outcomes.

Qualifications:

A relevant degree in environmental science, environmental planning, geography or a related discipline. Membership of a relevant professional body, such as the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), or another relevant professional accreditation, would be advantageous.

Why Join Us:

We put people first: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed. We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025. Recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies 2025. Named ‘Best Place to Work’ and ‘International Consulting Firm of the Year’ at the NCE Awards 2024.

We do what is right: Industry leading training and development as well as paid for professional subscriptions. A professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered with ICE. We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group and wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here: Stantec Employee Resource Groups).

Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK & Ireland - we want you to be part of it! Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.

Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.

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