Job Description

Principal Consultant- Environmental Assessment & Consents

Location : Scotland (Remote with travel to site when required)

Contract: Permanent

Working Pattern: Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm (37.5hrs per week).

Salary: Competitive according to experience

On behalf of an innovative and dynamic environmental and planning consultancy, we are seeking an experienced Principal Consultant to join the Environmental Assessment and Consents (EAC) team.

The consultancy specialises in providing high quality environmental and planning advice to blue chip clients, with a strong focus on the offshore wind sector as well as wider coastal projects.

In this role, you will join a diverse group of specialists responsible for EIA and consent delivery, post consent compliance management, and the provision of strategic, project specific advice to developers.

The Role

You will oversee the delivery of pioneering, complex renewable energy projects both within the UK and globally. In this role, you will provide expert advice on major marine developments while delivering development consents and post consent compliance in line with project schedules and budgets.

As a focal point and trusted adviser to a variety of clients, you will work closely with a wide range of stakeholders. These include client consent managers, engineering teams, legal advisors, statutory nature conservation organisations, and internal technical teams to efficiently deliver consent related material. You will also support clients with site selection, feasibility, legislative requirements, and the development consent process, including the identification of appropriate mitigation measures.

You will hold responsibility for the financial and programme management of projects, maintaining a clear understanding of project risks and necessary mitigation strategies. Additionally, you will have the ability and confidence to lead highly engaged teams, while coaching and mentoring senior and consultant grade staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Overseeing the delivery of consent related workstreams for complex offshore wind projects (including delivery of EIA, HRA and / or post-consent compliance)
• Managing internal and subcontractor teams
• Building strong relationships with clients and advise clients on key consenting risks and work with technical teams to find effective solutions to manage or mitigate these risks
• Developing and maintaining an effective and a highly engaged team
• Mentoring and supporting the development of more junior team members
• Leading stakeholder and client engagement
• Overseeing financial and programme management of your projects
• Overseeing project administration and reporting
• Reviewing and checking work completed by other team members
• Assisting with production of proposals and tenders
• Carrying out any additional activities that may be reasonably required or requested.
• Taking reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others, making use of the tools, equipment, training and resources available and actively engage with colleagues at all levels to contribute to the continuous improvement of health and safety management
• Completing mandatory training modules e.g. health and safety and those specific to your role

Candidate Profile

Essential

• A degree (preferably MSc), in a relevant Offshore/Marine science discipline
• Significant practical experience of delivering marine EIAs and / or post-consent compliance, demonstrating a breadth and depth of knowledge
• An established track record of providing EIA, HRA or post-consent compliance for major offshore infrastructure development projects in the UK (in offshore renewables or other marine development sector)
• Significant experience of project management

Desirable  

• Experience of leading teams
• Experience of post-consent project delivery
• Chartered member of a relevant professional organisation (or working towards such accreditation)
• Experience of working within the planning process in UK / Republic of Ireland / Scotland
• Experience working with statutory regulators and stakeholders, particularly in Scotland
• Confidence to take initiative and proactively solve problems, with an open mind to innovative solutions