Senior Environmental Consultant in Cheshire, Warrington

Lepus Consulting is a specialist environmental planning consultancy helping public sector organisations plan for growth, nature recovery and environmental stewardship throughout the UK. We support the preparation of local plans and planning policy through landscape assessment, Habitats Regulations Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment, green infrastructure planning and biodiversity advice.

As the planning system evolves and expectations around landscape, biodiversity, nature recovery and environmental assessment continue to grow, we are expanding our team and looking for talented professionals who want to help shape the future of places. We offer the opportunity to work on some of the UK's most interesting local authority planning and environmental projects, within a supportive and collaborative team. We encourage professional development, flexible working and the opportunity to help shape the future direction of the business.

Why Join Lepus?

Lepus is committed to professional development and technical excellence. Through the Lepus Academy, staff have opportunities for structured training, technical masterclasses and opportunities to develop expertise across environmental planning, ecology, landscape and sustainability. We also operate the Leveret Scheme, supporting the development of graduates and early-career professionals through mentoring, practical experience and exposure to a wide range of projects. Senior Consultants play an important role in helping to develop the next generation of environmental professionals.

Location & Flexible Working

Whilst Lepus is headquartered in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, we recognise that talented professionals are located throughout the UK. We are therefore open to applications from candidates across the country and are willing to consider home-based, hybrid and flexible working arrangements for the right individual.

Purpose

To lead the delivery of consultancy projects, providing technical expertise, project management and client relationship management in areas such as environmental planning, natural capital, biodiversity net gain, climate adaptation, landscape and sustainability. The Senior Consultant is responsible for delivering high-quality work, supporting junior colleagues and maintaining Lepus' reputation for technical excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Leadership & Delivery
  • Manage projects from inception to completion, ensuring delivery on time, on budget, and to high standards.
  • Act as project manager or technical lead on complex assignments.
  • Prepare, review, and quality-check reports, environmental statements, and technical outputs.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, standards, and client requirements.
• Client Engagement
  • Serve as the day-to-day contact for clients on projects.
  • Build and maintain strong professional relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders.
  • Support account management, including repeat business and client satisfaction.
  • Represent Lepus at client meetings, workshops, and external forums.
• Business Development
  • Support bid preparation, client relationship development and identification of new opportunities.
  • Prepare case studies, marketing content, and technical insights for profile-raising activities.
  • Identify new opportunities within existing and new client accounts.
• Teamwork & Leadership
  • Supervise, coach, and mentor consultants and graduates, providing constructive feedback and support.
  • Support the development of junior colleagues and contribute to a positive, collaborative and high-performing team culture.
  • Support the Head of Team with resource planning and project allocation.
  • Encourage collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skills development within the team.
• Professional Contribution
  • Contribute to innovation in methods, tools, and service offerings.
  • Stay informed on policy, regulation, and market developments affecting Lepus’ services.
  • Work towards or maintain relevant professional accreditation (e.g. CEnv, MRTPI, MCIEEM, MIEMA).
  • Actively uphold Lepus’ values, standards, and ISO/QA systems.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Significant consultancy experience in a relevant discipline.
• Proven ability to manage projects, budgets, and deadlines.
• Strong technical expertise in environmental planning, ecology, landscape, or related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with ability to produce persuasive and accurate outputs.
• Experience in client engagement and an appreciation of business development principles.
• Commercial awareness and financial management skills at project level.

Desirable

• Chartered status (CEnv, MRTPI, MCIEEM, MIEMA) or working towards it.
• Experience managing small project teams.
• Specialist skills such as GIS, data analysis, or modelling.
• Recognised contribution to the profession (e.g. publications, presentations).

Success Measures

• Projects delivered successfully (time, budget, quality, client satisfaction).
• Positive and enduring client relationships, with repeat work secured.
• Positive contribution to project delivery, client relationships and business growth.
• Strong team contribution, including mentoring and support for junior staff.
• Progression toward or achievement of professional accreditation.

Role Variations & Professional Pathways

Senior Consultant roles at Lepus may focus on a particular discipline, such as ecology, environmental planning, heritage, sustainability appraisal, or landscape consultancy. Where applicable, Senior Consultants are expected to align their professional development with the recognised standards and frameworks of their discipline (for example, CIEEM for ecologists, RTPI for planners, IHBC for heritage specialists, or the Landscape Institute for landscape consultants). This ensures that career progression and technical expertise are benchmarked against industry standards, supporting individual growth, professional recognition, and Lepus’ commitment to high-quality, accredited services.