At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead environmental assurance on one of the UK's largest infrastructure projects.
- Company: Join HS2, a pioneering company shaping the future of UK transport.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 12% pension, healthcare, and 25 days holiday.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a dynamic and collaborative environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on environmental performance in a high-profile role.
- Qualifications: Significant experience in environmental management and strong leadership skills required.
Location: Southam, Banbury, Northampton, Greatworth or Bicester (Hybrid 3 days office/site 2 days from home)
Salary: £80,000 – £92,432 + 12% Pension + Healthcare + 25 Days Holiday
Programme: HS2 Phase One – £4.2bn EKFB Main Works Civils Contract
Lead Environmental Delivery on One of Europe's Largest Infrastructure Projects
Are you an experienced Environmental Manager looking for a genuine leadership opportunity on one of the UK's most complex and high-profile infrastructure programmes? Do you have the ability to influence contractors, regulators and stakeholders whilst managing complex environmental challenges across a major construction programme? Would you like exposure to one of the broadest and most technically diverse environmental portfolios in UK infrastructure including ecology, groundwater and hydrology, noise and vibration, archaeology, sustainability, carbon reduction and environmental compliance?
This is an exceptional opportunity to join HS2 as a Senior Environmental Manager and take ownership of environmental assurance across a significant section of the route, helping deliver one of the largest and most environmentally ambitious infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the UK.
The Opportunity
Working client-side within the Integrated Project Team (IPT), you will act as the senior environmental lead for approximately 40km of the northern section of the EKFB route between Southam and Bicester, representing approximately £2.5bn of construction activity. Reporting to the Head of Engineering and Environment, you will provide strategic environmental leadership across a major section of the £4.2bn EKFB Main Works Civils Contract, supporting successful delivery while ensuring compliance with environmental legislation, statutory obligations, environmental commitments and HS2's Environmental Minimum Requirements (EMRs). This is a highly visible leadership role requiring close collaboration with contractors, consultants, regulators, local authorities and internal stakeholders to ensure environmental considerations remain central to project delivery.
The Role
As Senior Environmental Manager you will provide environmental assurance and leadership across all stages of delivery, ensuring that design and construction activities comply with environmental legislation, project commitments and statutory obligations. You will lead a small team while drawing upon specialist expertise across disciplines including ecology, groundwater, noise and vibration, archaeology, sustainability and environmental compliance. A key aspect of the role is influencing and constructively challenging delivery partners to ensure environmental risks are identified early, mitigated effectively and managed proactively throughout the project lifecycle. You will act as the intelligent client, triaging issues and determining where intervention, challenge and escalation are required to improve environmental performance, reduce risk and support successful project delivery. The role requires strong judgement, resilience and the ability to balance environmental obligations with programme, commercial and delivery pressures.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead environmental assurance activities across your section of the route.
- Provide environmental leadership within the Integrated Project Team.
- Review and approve environmental assurance evidence, technical submissions and contractor deliverables.
- Ensure compliance with HS2 Environmental Minimum Requirements (EMRs), environmental commitments and applicable legislation.
- Support technical stage gate reviews and assurance processes.
- Lead the management and resolution of complex environmental issues and incidents.
- Influence contractors and delivery teams to improve environmental performance and environmental culture.
- Coordinate specialist environmental expertise across multiple technical disciplines.
- Engage with regulators, local authorities and statutory bodies including the Environment Agency and Natural England.
- Support environmental reporting, risk management and programme governance activities.
- Promote environmental best practice and continuous improvement across the programme.
- Provide technical leadership on environmental risks, opportunities and mitigation strategies.
- Support the Head of Engineering and Environment in maintaining environmental assurance across the programme.
Commercial Awareness
Provide technical advice on Change Requests, Compensation Events and Early Warnings, assessing whether environmental mitigation measures and additional works fall within existing contractual scope or require formal change control, helping protect programme budgets and taxpayer value.
Risk Management
Lead environmental risk identification and mitigation activities including maintaining environmental risk registers, facilitating risk reduction workshops and ensuring environmental risks are proactively managed throughout the project lifecycle.
Contract and Supplier Management
Challenge contractors and supply chain partners on environmental obligations and performance, ensuring risks, issues and emerging changes are identified early and managed effectively to minimise programme and commercial impacts.
What We're Looking For
You are likely to be an experienced Environmental Manager or Senior Environmental Manager with a strong track record of delivering environmental management and assurance on major infrastructure projects. You will combine technical environmental expertise with strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills together with the credibility to influence senior stakeholders and delivery partners.
Essential Experience
- Significant environmental management experience on major infrastructure or civil engineering projects.
- Experience working within construction delivery environments.
- Previous leadership or line management experience.
- Experience within client-side organisations, consultancies or principal contractors.
- Strong understanding of environmental legislation and construction compliance requirements.
- Experience managing complex environmental issues through to successful resolution.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to balance pragmatic programme delivery with environmental obligations.
- Commercial awareness and understanding of change management processes.
- Experience managing environmental risks within large delivery programmes.
- Experience working with contractors and supply chain partners in complex delivery environments.
Desirable Experience
- Chartered Environmentalist status or equivalent professional accreditation.
- Experience working with NEC contracts.
- Experience engaging with regulators and statutory bodies.
- Rail, highways, aviation, nuclear, utilities or other nationally significant infrastructure experience.
- Experience working within complex multi-disciplinary delivery environments.
Why Join HS2?
This is a rare opportunity for an experienced environmental professional to move into a highly influential leadership position and help shape the environmental performance of one of the UK's most significant infrastructure programmes. You will gain exposure to some of the most challenging environmental issues in UK construction while helping deliver a railway that will serve the country for generations to come.
Senior Environmental Manager employer: Charlton Recruitment
HS2 is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead environmental assurance on one of the UK's most ambitious infrastructure projects. With a strong focus on employee growth, competitive benefits including a generous pension scheme and healthcare, and a collaborative work culture that values environmental stewardship, HS2 provides a meaningful and rewarding environment for professionals looking to make a significant impact in their field. The hybrid working model allows for flexibility, ensuring a healthy work-life balance while engaging with diverse stakeholders across the project.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Environmental Manager
✨Get Involved in Local Environmental Initiatives
Dive into your local environmental scenes, like community clean-up projects or eco-focused events. Not only will you meet like-minded people, but it's a surefire way to showcase your passion and skills in environmental engineering tech.
✨Join Industry-Specific Organisations
Check out organisations like the Institution of Environmental Engineers for networking opportunities and resources. They often host events and seminars that can help us connect with key players in the industry, including potential employers like Charlton Recruitment.
✨Show Off Your Projects and Passion
Create a portfolio that highlights any relevant projects, whether it's coursework, internships, or personal initiatives. Share this online, perhaps even on platforms like GitHub or your own website, to grab the attention of hiring managers looking for talent like us.
✨Utilise Environmental Job Boards
Take advantage of niche job boards dedicated to environmental careers. Sites like Green Jobs, Environmental Career and EcoJobs often feature openings from companies like Charlton Recruitment and can help us land that full-time gig.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Environmental Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for a role in environmental engineering tech, make sure to highlight your technical skills like CAD software proficiency, data analysis, or modelling techniques. These are essential for the job and should stand out in your CV and cover letter, showing how you can contribute to projects at Charlton Recruitment.
Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability:In this field, showcasing your passion for sustainability and environmental protection can set you apart. Include any relevant projects, volunteer experience, or courses that underline your commitment to these causes. Charlton Recruitment will appreciate candidates who genuinely care about making a difference.
Tailor Your Application to the Role:Don't just send a generic CV and cover letter. Make sure to tailor your application to the specific role of Senior Environmental Manager at Charlton Recruitment. Highlight experiences that align directly with the job description and give concrete examples of your work to demonstrate that you’re the right fit for a full-time position.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have certifications related to environmental engineering or technology, like LEED Accreditation or any relevant software certifications, make sure to mention them. These qualifications can boost your application and show that you’re serious about your professional development in this competitive field.
How to prepare for a job interview at Charlton Recruitment
✨Brush Up on Environmental Regulations
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest environmental regulations and standards. In an environmental engineering tech role at Charlton Recruitment, you might be asked specific questions about compliance measures, so understanding these will definitely give you an edge.
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your proficiency with relevant tools and software, such as AutoCAD or GIS. You might be given a practical problem to solve during the interview, so it’s a great idea to brush up on these skills and perhaps even bring a portfolio of your projects to showcase your technical prowess.
✨Highlight Your Passion for Sustainability
In a full-time role, employers are looking for commitment and enthusiasm. Share your experiences, studies, or projects that reflect your passion for environmental sustainability. This will show Charlton Recruitment that you're not just qualified but genuinely invested in the field.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Be ready for behavioural questions that assess how you handle teamwork, conflict, and project management. Think of examples from your studies or practical experiences where you tackled challenges effectively, showcasing both your technical and interpersonal skills.
