Principal Environmental Consultant – Water Environment

Principal Environmental Consultant – Water Environment

£48,000 - £55,000, Bonus, 33 days annual leave (increases with service)

Remote working (UK-Wide)

Are you an experienced environmental specialist with a passion for the water environment? Do you enjoy coordinating multidisciplinary inputs and delivering high-quality, evidence-led assessments? This role offers the chance to step into a position that blends technical leadership, project integration and client engagement across a diverse portfolio of water-related projects.

A growing environmental consultancy is seeking a Principal Environmental Consultant – Water Environment to strengthen its Environmental Assessment team. You’ll work across freshwater, estuarine and coastal systems, supporting clients in the water, energy, infrastructure and conservation sectors.

The Role

You will act as both technical lead and project integrator, bringing together expertise across hydrology, hydromorphology, water quality, groundwater, flood risk and aquatic ecology. Your work will include:

• Leading and authoring Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) chapters
• Delivering Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments
• Supporting Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA)
• Developing research reports, monitoring programmes and technical studies
• Coordinating multidisciplinary inputs to produce clear, robust, evidence-based outputs
• Supporting tenders, proposals and business development activities
• Helping shape and grow the organisation’s water environment capability

This is a role where your technical judgement, organisational skills and ability to communicate complex issues clearly will make a real impact.

What You’ll Bring

• MSc/PhD in Environmental Science or related discipline (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years’ experience in environmental consultancy or a similar setting
• Strong understanding of environmental legislation, particularly WFD
• Experience delivering water-related environmental assessments (EIA, WFD, etc.)
• Proven ability to coordinate complex, multi-disciplinary projects
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability
• Experience engaging with clients and managing expectations
• Commercial awareness, including input into tenders and proposals
• Experience contributing to large-scale environmental or infrastructure projects
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel

Desirable

• Line management or mentoring experience
• Experience delivering high-profile or complex projects
• Membership of a relevant professional body
• Experience with HRA
• GIS capability
• Full UK driving licence

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to take on a role with real influence, helping shape the direction of a growing team while contributing to projects that protect and enhance the water environment. The organisation is committed to flexibility, development and building a diverse team. If you don’t meet every requirement but feel you could excel in the role, you are encouraged to apply.