Principal eia consultant

Are you an experienced Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) professional looking for the opportunity to lead complex projects, strengthen client relationships and help shape more sustainable development across the UK? We’re looking for a Principal EIA Consultant to join our growing environmental team. This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in delivering environmental assessment and consenting services across a diverse portfolio of infrastructure, energy, water, transport and development projects. You’ll work at the intersection of environmental assessment, planning and sustainable development, helping clients understand and manage environmental impacts while navigating the requirements of the UK planning and consenting process.

Working alongside planners, environmental specialists, engineers and other technical experts, you’ll lead project delivery, coordinate multidisciplinary teams and provide trusted advice to clients. You’ll also have the opportunity to contribute to business development, support the development of colleagues and play an important role in the continued growth of our environmental assessment capability. With the role available nationally, you’ll have the flexibility to be based at one of our UK offices, working collaboratively with colleagues across our wider business.

About The Role:

As a Principal EIA Consultant, you will:

• Lead and contribute to the delivery of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Environmental Statements and associated environmental assessment documentation across a range of sectors.
• Manage EIA projects and workstreams from early project development and scoping through assessment, reporting, consultation and submission.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary technical inputs, ensuring environmental assessments are robust, proportionate and delivered to a high standard.
• Provide technical advice on environmental constraints, potential impacts, mitigation measures and consenting requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
• Prepare, review and quality-assure EIA reports, Environmental Statements, technical assessments and supporting documentation.
• Apply a strong understanding of UK environmental assessment legislation, planning policy and relevant guidance to inform project decisions and deliver effective outcomes.
• Advise clients and project teams on environmental assessment strategy, planning considerations and approaches to managing environmental risk.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, local authorities, statutory consultees, regulators and other stakeholders.
• Lead and contribute to stakeholder engagement, consultation exercises, workshops and project meetings.
• Manage project delivery, including programmes, budgets, resources and technical quality, ensuring work is completed within agreed timescales and commercial parameters.
• Identify opportunities to improve project delivery, develop practical solutions and share best practice across the wider team.
• Support business development through client engagement, identifying opportunities, preparing proposals and contributing to bids and tenders.
• Develop and maintain client relationships, helping to secure repeat business and support the growth of our environmental consultancy services.
• Provide technical guidance, mentoring and support to junior and intermediate colleagues, contributing to their professional development.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across our planning, environmental and engineering teams to deliver integrated, sustainable solutions for our clients.

Your Impact:

You’ll play a key role in helping clients navigate complex environmental challenges and deliver projects that balance development needs with environmental responsibility. Through your technical expertise and project leadership, you’ll help ensure environmental considerations are embedded in decision-making from the earliest stages of a project through to consenting and delivery. You’ll have the opportunity to work on a varied portfolio of projects, contributing to solutions across sectors including energy, water, transport, infrastructure and the built environment.

As a Principal Consultant, you’ll take ownership of project delivery, provide trusted technical advice and build lasting client relationships. You’ll also help develop the capability of our wider environmental team, sharing your knowledge and supporting colleagues as they progress in their careers. Working within a multidisciplinary organisation, you’ll have access to expertise across a broad range of environmental and engineering disciplines, enabling you to deliver integrated solutions to complex project challenges. You’ll also have the opportunity to contribute to business growth, influence how we deliver our services and help shape the future of our EIA capability across the UK.

About You:

We’re looking for an experienced EIA professional who combines strong technical expertise with project leadership, commercial awareness and a collaborative approach. You’ll be confident managing complex environmental assessments, advising clients and coordinating multidisciplinary teams, while looking for opportunities to develop both our people and our business.

You'll have:

• Significant experience in EIA, environmental consultancy, environmental planning or a closely related discipline.
• Strong experience delivering and managing EIA projects, including the preparation, coordination or review of Environmental Statements and supporting technical documentation.
• A good understanding of UK environmental assessment legislation, planning policy, consenting processes and relevant technical guidance.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary environmental assessments and managing inputs from a range of technical specialists.
• The ability to identify environmental risks and opportunities, develop appropriate mitigation strategies and provide practical, commercially aware advice.
• Proven project management skills, including managing programmes, budgets, resources and competing priorities.
• Experience building effective relationships with clients, regulators, statutory consultees and other stakeholders.
• Strong technical report-writing, analytical and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex environmental issues clearly to different audiences.
• Experience supporting bids, tenders, proposals and business development, with an interest in developing client relationships and identifying new opportunities.
• Experience mentoring and supporting colleagues, sharing technical knowledge and contributing to a positive team culture.
• A proactive, collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively across a geographically dispersed, multidisciplinary team.
• A genuine interest in sustainable development and delivering environmental outcomes that make a positive difference.

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. Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who is passionate about environmental assessment, committed to delivering high-quality work and motivated to make a difference through their technical expertise, leadership and contribution to the wider team.

Contact Rozy Manir in the Talent Acquisition team for further information.