Senior Consents and EIA Manager in High Wycombe

The Consents Manager will lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of all statutory consents and approvals required for a major airport expansion project under the Development Consent Order (DCO) regime. This role spans pre‑application strategy and examination leadership ensuring all consents are robust, deliverable, and fully aligned with the wider programme.

Major Responsibilities

• Strategy, Planning & Governance: Manage inputs to the Consents Strategy, covering the DCO and all secondary consents (e.g., environmental permits, highways approvals, flood risk activity permits, s.61 consents, protective provisions). Manage development of the Master Consents Register, integrated consents schedule, and associated risk register. Drive programme‑wide alignment on consents pathways, evidence requirements, and critical path items.
• Management of EIA Consultants: Lead, coordinate, and quality‑manage all EIA consultant teams on behalf of Bechtel and the customer, ensuring delivery of a legally robust, well‑structured Environmental Statement (ES) and supporting environmental assessments. Set scopes of work, manage schedules and budgets, and ensure EIA outputs integrate with design, engineering, and planning workstreams. Chair review meetings, track progress, manage risks, and maintain consistency in environmental reporting across all technical chapters. Oversee the quality of EIA evidence used in stakeholder engagement, pre‑application submissions, and Examination responses.
• DCO Lifecycle Management: Pre‑Application: Support statutory consultation, oversee Statements of Common Ground, and support engagement with Planning Inspectorate (PINS), regulators, local authorities, and stakeholders. Examination: Manage responses to the Examining Authority's Questions (ExQs), hearings, and action trackers to ensure submissions are coherent, timely, and evidence‑based. Post‑Decision: Implement and manage the requirements‑discharge framework, ensuring consents and conditions are satisfied prior to works commencing.
• Stakeholder & Authority Engagement: Support liaison with PINS, statutory consultees, planning authorities, and other regulators on environmental topics. Support negotiations on protective provisions, side agreements, and technical approval processes. Ensure clear and effective communication channels across the project, including with community engagement teams.
• Reporting & Evidence Management: Produce and maintain a consents look‑ahead, quarterly updates, and governance reports. Ensure all consents deliverables, approvals, and evidence are stored and controlled in accordance with programme requirements.
• Team Leadership: Provide supervision, guidance, and technical direction to consents specialists, environmental planners, and other team members. Work closely with the Project Manager and Programme Director to align consents delivery with programme milestones.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Degree in planning, environmental management/law/engineering, or related discipline.
• Proven track record delivering permits and consents, ideally on complex transport/aviation projects.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of the Planning Act, EIA and HRA Regulations, and secondary consents is preferable.
• Demonstrated experience managing environmental consultants, technical assessments, and environmental evidence bases.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage complex schedules, risks, and reporting frameworks.

Project Overview

The project scope includes planning, design, integration, and delivery of major airfield infrastructure, buildings, systems, and associated periphery infrastructure.

Total Rewards & Benefits

For decades, Bechtel has worked to inspire the next generation of employees and beyond! Because our teams face some of the world’s toughest challenges, we offer robust benefits to ensure our people thrive. Whether it is advancing careers, delivering programs to enhance our culture, or providing time to recharge, Bechtel has the benefits to build a legacy of sustainable growth.