Principal EIA Consultant - Infrastructure

Ocean to Earth Recruitment is proud to be partnering with a leading independent environmental and planning consultancy to find a talented Principal Consultant with expertise in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) within the infrastructure sector.

This is a unique opportunity to join a purpose-led, B Corp certified organisation committed to sustainability, people, and planet. You’ll be joining a collaborative and well-established team known for delivering impactful work across nationally significant projects in sectors such as energy, water, highways, rail, and coastal infrastructure.

The Role

As a Principal Consultant, you'll play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality EIA services across a wide-ranging and growing portfolio of projects. You'll be expected to:

• Lead and manage multidisciplinary teams on complex EIA projects.

• Contribute to project delivery as a technical lead, framework manager, or project manager.

• Support the mentoring and development of junior team members.

• Collaborate with in-house planning, social value, and socioeconomics specialists as well as external partners.

• Engage with clients and stakeholders, offering strategic advice and ensuring excellent service delivery.

• Drive business development through high-quality bid contributions and client relationship building.

The Ideal Candidate

You’ll be a proactive and experienced consultant with:

• 5–8 years of consulting experience, ideally with a strong background in infrastructure EIA.

• Demonstrable project delivery experience, including DCO (Development Consent Order) projects.

• Strong client-facing skills with a professional and collaborative approach.

• A degree in a relevant discipline such as environmental science, planning, or sustainability.

• Proven people and project management capabilities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable Qualities and Experience

• Chartered or working towards chartership with a relevant institute.

• Specialist knowledge in an EIA discipline, planning or sustainability.

• Postgraduate qualification in a related field.

• Awareness of evolving UK environmental legislation and assessment frameworks.

• Experience in strategic environmental assessments (SEA) and/or environmental management planning (CEMPs/CoCPs).

• Cross-sector EIA experience, particularly in both infrastructure and property.

Why Join?

• Work on exciting, complex, and high-impact projects across the UK.

• Be part of a purpose-driven, ethical, and inclusive organisation.

• Flexible hybrid working arrangements and supportive team culture.

• Opportunities for growth, learning and leadership in a dynamic consultancy environment.

Diversity & Inclusion

Our partner is committed to creating an inclusive, equal opportunities workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Interested in this role?
Apply now through Ocean to Earth Recruitment or reach out for a confidential conversation about your next career move in environmental consultancy.