Principal Soils and Agriculture Consultant in Leeds

At AECOM, we deliver a better world. From improving commutes to transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve complex challenges and build legacies for future generations. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand.

Are you ready to join a team of talented land management specialists and shape the future of sustainable land use? Join our dynamic Nature team as a Principal Soil and Agriculture Consultant in Cambridge or Leeds or one of our other UK offices, as well as taking advantage of our flexible hybrid working model. At AECOM, we’re at the forefront of innovation, delivering an exceptional portfolio of environmental land management assessment and planning through long-term partnerships with key clients. Presently, we are working on a wide range of projects, notably in the power and renewables, infrastructure, restoration and environmental policy sectors. This involves collaborating with other technical disciplines such as forestry and arboriculture, landscape, GIS, engineering, sustainability and drainage. Our recent projects have included several of the largest solar farms to have gained consent in the UK; infrastructure and residential developments, and electricity network upgrades including the Great Grid Partnership.

In this role, depending on your interests and skillset, you will have opportunities to combine field soil surveys with report writing and formulating management plans. Our supportive environment offers both internal and external training opportunities within a nurturing mentoring and coaching framework.

• Lead and support delivery of high-quality soil and agriculture consultancy and advisory services to both internal and external clients;
• Comply with internal business management procedures and promote the strong health and safety culture;
• Oversee plan, schedule and organise surveys using combinations of internal and external soil surveyors ensuring necessary resources, budgets and controls are in place to meet both programme and budget requirements;
• Organise, lead and carry out soil surveys, including augering and excavation using hand tools;
• Undertake the analysis, evaluation, interpretation and presentation of soils data, including preparing reports and management plans;
• Support development of technically robust reports and soil management plans, including leading and supporting production of soils, agriculture and/or land use chapters for environmental statements as author or technical checker of project deliverables, ensuring high quality outputs;
• Support the continued development of our technical capabilities by keeping abreast of developments in soil and land management, including developments in soil health and carbon sequestration.

• Degree (or equivalent) in environmental science, ideally including soil science, although additional soils expertise may have been acquired post qualification.
• Membership of British Society of Soil Science and/or Institute of Agricultural Engineers.
• Experience of leading and managing soil surveys, ideally for the purposes of agricultural land classification.
• Travel/overnight stays will be required.
• Understanding of soil chemical and physical properties and analysis for specifying soil and land, particularly its suitability for re-use.
• Experience in scoping and pricing work opportunities, managing projects, project budgets and leading stakeholder discussions.
• Experience of reviewing technical work and supporting wider team members.

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at ReasonableAccommodations@aecom.com. At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.