Senior Environmental Planning Consultant

Locations: London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Leicester, Birmingham or Edinburgh | Hybrid Working

Embankment Group is working with a leading multidisciplinary consultancy that is looking to appoint an experienced Environmental Planning Consultant to join its expanding environmental planning team.

This is a senior-level position offering the opportunity to lead and support complex planning, consenting and Environmental Impact Assessment projects across a broad range of sectors.

You will work alongside specialists in environmental planning, sustainability, ecology, engineering and other related disciplines, helping clients navigate environmental risks, planning requirements and project consenting from the earliest stages of development through to delivery.

The role can be based from London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Leicester, Birmingham or Edinburgh, with flexible and hybrid working available.

The Role

You will take a leading role in the delivery of environmental planning and assessment work across major projects.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading and coordinating Environmental Impact Assessment projects.
• Managing environmental planning inputs from project inception through to submission and delivery.
• Coordinating multidisciplinary environmental teams and technical specialists.
• Managing project programmes, budgets, resources and deliverables.
• Providing strategic advice on environmental planning and consenting requirements.
• Identifying environmental risks, constraints and opportunities at an early stage.
• Developing appropriate mitigation and enhancement strategies.
• Reviewing technical information and ensuring environmental assessments are clear, proportionate and robust.
• Preparing and reviewing Environmental Statements and associated planning documentation.
• Working closely with clients, planning authorities, statutory bodies and wider project stakeholders.
• Supporting consultation and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Managing multiple projects across different sectors and stages of development.
• Providing technical guidance and support to less experienced members of the team.
• Contributing to the continued development of internal environmental planning capability.
• Preparing fee proposals, tenders and framework submissions.
• Supporting the development of new and existing client relationships.
• Identifying opportunities for further work across key markets and sectors.
• Maintaining high standards of technical quality and regulatory compliance.

About You

We are interested in speaking with environmental planning professionals who can demonstrate:

• A degree or equivalent qualification in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Planning, Economics or a related discipline.
• Strong professional experience within environmental planning, EIA or a related consultancy environment.
• Experience leading or managing Environmental Impact Assessment projects.
• A good understanding of UK environmental planning and consenting requirements.
• Strong project management skills, including responsibility for budgets, programmes and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience coordinating environmental technical disciplines.
• The ability to identify and manage environmental risks and constraints.
• Strong technical report-writing and reviewing skills.
• Confidence communicating complex environmental information to clients and other stakeholders.
• Experience dealing with planning authorities, regulators and statutory consultees.
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Commercial awareness and experience preparing proposals or tenders.
• The ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.
• Experience mentoring or supporting other environmental professionals.

Experience undertaking or coordinating socio-economic assessments would be beneficial but is not essential.

Project Exposure

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work across a varied portfolio that may include:

• Major infrastructure schemes.
• Transport projects.
• Water and utilities programmes.
• Renewable and conventional energy development.
• Residential and mixed-use schemes.
• Commercial development.
• Defence and public-sector projects.
• Minerals and resource-related development.
• Other nationally significant and complex environmental projects.

Career Development

This position offers considerable scope to develop both technically and commercially within an established environmental planning team.

You will have access to experienced environmental specialists, structured professional development, technical training and mentoring, while also having the opportunity to take greater responsibility for clients, projects and team development.

The role can provide a clear route into more senior technical, project management or environmental planning leadership positions as your experience develops.