Principal Consultant – Planning & EIA

Principal Consultant – Planning & EIA

Location: Manchester (Hybrid Working Available)

Salary: £50,000–£60,000 + benefits

Company size: <100 UK Wide

A leading environmental and planning consultancy is seeking a Principal Consultant to join its Manchester office (this is a sister company office) and take the lead on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and planning projects across the North of England and beyond. This is a senior-level role offering the chance to shape major developments in renewables, infrastructure, and property, while mentoring a growing team and contributing to strategic growth.

This position is ideal for someone with a strong background in UK planning and EIA consultancy, who’s ready to combine technical delivery with leadership and client engagement in a flexible, supportive environment.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership

• Manage complex EIA and planning projects from inception to completion
• Prepare and review environmental statements, technical reports, and management plans
• Ensure delivery meets quality, budget, and timeline expectations
• Coordinate input from multidisciplinary teams and external specialists

Team Management

• Line manage and support a team of consultants
• Foster a collaborative and knowledge-sharing culture
• Assist with resource planning and workload distribution

Client & Commercial Development

• Serve as the main point of contact for key clients
• Lead on bids, tenders, and fee proposals
• Identify new opportunities across energy, infrastructure, and property sectors

Strategic Input

• Provide expert advice in your area of specialism
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the planning and EIA team
• Represent the consultancy at industry events and client meetings

About You

• Proven experience delivering EIA and planning consultancy projects in the UK
• Strong understanding of environmental and planning legislation
• Confident managing teams and coordinating complex workloads
• Commercially aware with excellent client-facing skills
• Degree-qualified in a relevant discipline (e.g. Environmental Science, Planning, Geography)

What’s On Offer

• Salary: £50,000–£60,000 depending on experience
• Hybrid working with flexibility around office and site visits
• Opportunities to lead high-profile projects and shape team growth
• Supportive leadership and structured career development
• Diverse client base across energy, infrastructure, and property

If you're ready to take the next step in your consultancy career and want to work with a company that values both technical excellence and team wellbeing, we’d love to hear from you.