Principal Environmental & Sustainability Consultant

Mott MacDonald
We’re a global engineering, management, and development consultancy. Our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.
A fundamental part of this is respecting each person’s differences and striving to meet their needs. We are proud to be a one of Glassdoor’s top employers to work for in the UK, as well as being recognised as a Top Inclusive Company in the UK.
 Our values: Progress, Respect, Integrity, Drive, Excellence.

About the division 
Environmental and social considerations are central to Mott MacDonald’s Purpose and its offerings across all sectors and territories. Our environment and social business provides essential services and innovative solutions which anticipate our clients' needs across all sectors
 
 
Overview of the Role

Are you passionate about delivering innovative environmental solutions and shaping the future? Mott MacDonald’s Environment, Nature, and Consents business is looking for an experienced Principal Consultant to contribute to a growing pipeline of exciting opportunities. 

Mott MacDonald is a global management and development consultancy adding value to projects for public and private clients worldwide.

Our Environmental & Sustainability Services (ESS) team consists of over 100 environmental and sustainability professionals located across 18 offices throughout the UK and Spain. ESS is involved in a diverse range of projects across a various sectors, including energy, ports/marine, defence, water, rail, and urban development projects, for a variety of clients including local authorities, government agencies, utility companies, Network Rail, National Grid, contractors and many more. 

We lead the coordination, delivery and management of environmental and sustainability workstreams at all stages of the project lifecycle, from business case development and optioneering through to supply chain procurement and construction. Our team members are pivotal in advocating for environmental and social outcomes on projects and embedding sustainability into the decision-making process, working closely with environmental technical specialists, stakeholders, design team and clients

This UK-based role could be based out of any of 20+ offices, with a preference for Altrincham, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Reading, Southampton, with potential opportunities for travel both within the UK and internationally.

As part of this role, the successful candidate would be likely to undertake the following:

• Leading EIA screening and scoping, the production of Environmental Statements and other environmental reports. 
• Coordination of technical input from multi-disciplinary specialists.  
• Managing programmes, resources and finances on environmental projects.
• Undertaking business development and proposal writing for environmental services, either as stand-alone services or as part of integrated services offered by Mott MacDonald. 
• Client liaison and engagement with stakeholders. 
• Mentoring and line management of environmental team members. 
• Opportunities to develop an environmental technical specialism, in addition to environmental coordination are available.  
   

Candidate specification 

You will have both a personal and professional passion for environmental outcomes. You will have an excellent track record at delivering projects in a variety of sectors for a range of public and private sector clients. You will be able to demonstrate the following skills, competencies and experience: 

Essential 

• Relevant academic/professional qualifications 
• Chartership through a relevant organisation (IEMA, IES, CIWEM or similar) 
• Highly experienced in environmental assessment, EIA, SEA, relevant UK environmental planning legislation and/or ESG, sustainability strategy and appraisal development for infrastructure projects and national and local sustainability priorities 
• Experience of working in a client-facing environment with ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders to deliver positive outcomes 
• Well organised with strong planning and management skills, with ability to produce high quality deliverables and manage budgets and programmes 
• Experience working in diverse multi-disciplinary teams and leading teams to produce environmental and sustainability deliverables to a high standard 

The following experience and sector knowledge would be desirable but is not essential: 

• Bid/tender delivery experience including development of cost and quality responses 
• Experience of working on TWAO and/or DCO schemes, and experience of the Water, Defence, Energy, marine or rail sectors, would be beneficial 
• People management experience and supporting staff development including progression with professional qualifications 
• Confident delivery of environmental and sustainability workshops or training, both online and in person. 

If you meet most of what we are looking for, please apply. We understand not everyone will meet all the requirements, but you might also have the skills we didn’t know we need. 

We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds 

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

Agile working 

Happy to talk Flexible Working and how we can support your responsibilities beyond the workplace.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

 Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.