EIA Technical Director Solar & Battery

At AECOM, we are delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for the future.

We are recruiting an experienced Technical Director of EIA to join our Environment & Sustainability business and deliver our increasing portfolio of renewables and net zero projects, with a particular focus on the solar sector. As we are a team, we are flexible in terms of office location – this includes offices in Basingstoke, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Chesterfield, Croydon, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London Aldgate, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Plymouth, St Albans, Warrington. However, do get in touch if this does not work for you because, for the right candidate, we’ll explore other options. We would welcome interest from candidates looking for either a part-time or full-time position.

AECOM is working on many solar farm and battery applications currently, of all sizes from 1MW schemes through to several of Europe’s largest solar farms. This includes 14 UK solar projects classified as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), such as Sunnica Energy Farm, Longfield Solar Farm, Gate Burton Energy Park, East Yorkshire Solar Farm, Fenwick Solar Farm, Tillbridge Solar Farm, and Fosse Green Energy. We are well placed to secure new, exciting solar projects in the UK and internationally and keen for you to be part of our growing team.

As a Technical Director you’ll lead environmental inputs to large-scale development projects that are transforming our infrastructure. We are particularly seeking candidates with experience in:

• Leading EIAs and coordinating the environmental workstreams for solar and battery storage schemes; and/or
• Delivering under the Planning Infrastructure 2008 regime, leading EIAs for Development Consent Order applications.

If you do not currently have this experience, we are also happy to help you move into this sector if you have an interest to diversify and transition your skillset and your skills are transferable. We are particularly successful delivering large scale NSIPs and would particularly welcome experience of the DCO regime.

As a Technical Director you’ll lead and oversee EIAs for renewables and solar projects, lead environmental inputs across all project life stages, from early strategy development and site identification studies, through feasibility, optioneering/option selection, outline design, to detailed design, discharging of conditions/requirements, construction, and scheme operation/maintenance. You will direct the day-to-day EIA project manager and oversee several EIA teams, helping to coordinate the resourcing and training of the solar and battery EIA sector. You will have the opportunity to work across a portfolio of development projects covering multiple consenting regimes. You will also play an instrumental role in helping to seek out and secure new commissions, and be actively engaged in client relationship management.

You will work daily with technical experts within our established Environmental Impact team. We are a founding member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) EIA Quality Mark, whilst everything we do aligns with our environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy.

Lead multidisciplinary environmental inputs across a wide range of projects, supporting projects to gain development consent.

Direct the preparation of EIA screening and scoping reports, environmental assessments/Environmental Statements (and in the future Environmental Outcomes Reports) and supporting documents, including the technical review of specialist chapters. Direct resources, delegating activities, monitoring and managing project budgets (with support as applicable).

Collaborate as part of integrated design teams to identify environmental constraints, avoid impacts and develop solutions in accordance with the mitigation hierarchy, as well as delivering benefits where possible. Client engagement and management. Working in partnership with internal supply teams and members of the wider business.

Mentor staff development and mentoring.

Lead business opportunities and associated technical proposal development.

Champion AECOM’s environmental services to both internal and external audiences.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Experience of directing and managing multidisciplinary environmental inputs to infrastructure development projects.
• Experience of leading consultancy services.
• An excellent understanding of the EIA processes, environmental assessment methods.
• A detailed understanding of relevant consenting and licensing regimes.
• Confidence when engaging with a wide variety of stakeholder groups and clients.
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of an established team, leading inputs from specialist technical teams.
• Excellent verbal and report writing skills, including technical reviewing.
• Project management skills, including programming, staff resource management and budget management.
• A degree in a relevant environmental discipline (preferably a Masters degree) and an appropriate professional membership.

The following would be a bonus:

• Experience of the DCO consenting regimes.
• Solar and/or other renewables experience.

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. If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you!