Principal Environmental Consultant - Nuclear Energy in London

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

About the business unit

The Energy unit delivers services to clients globally across several sectors including hydropower, nuclear, waste, renewable generation and transmission & distribution networks. Together we provide integrated engineering and project management services across the project lifecycle – from concept and design to construction and operations, to decommissioning or repowering and life extension. Together with our clients, we’re helping to deliver the energy transition globally.

Overview of the role

Are you passionate about delivering innovative environmental solutions and shaping the future of the nuclear industry? Mott MacDonald's Nuclear business is looking for an experienced Principal Environmental Consultant to contribute to a growing pipeline of exciting opportunities. This UK‑based role offers flexibility in location, with a preference for our Bristol or Altrincham offices, and opportunities for travel both within the UK and internationally.

Key responsibilities and duties

• Provide robust and timely technical and strategic environmental advice across the nuclear industry, particularly concerning permitting and consenting.
• Work with the wider business to promote nuclear opportunities and to provide clients with a comprehensive offering.
• Ensure that Mott MacDonald is kept up to date internally on key developments in nuclear environment and permitting legislation, regulations, policy and best practice.
• Contribute to business development activities, such as thought leadership, attendance at industry events and visiting clients.
• Support the development of colleagues at various levels.
• Identify on‑going resource requirements and assist in recruitment.
• Promote Mott MacDonald environmental and sustainability goals, both internally and externally.

Candidate specification

Requirements:

• A degree in an environmental or STEM subject, or equivalent industrial experience.
• Chartership to a recognised environmental or engineering institution.
• Experience or knowledge of the UK nuclear sector and familiarisation with current trends and opportunities.
• Knowledge of UK legislation, policy, regulatory guidance, and best practice relating to environmental aspects of licensed nuclear sites.
• Experience of radioactive substances and conventional environment permitting needed on nuclear sites, including the application of Best Available Techniques.
• Consenting experience within the nuclear sector, or other regulated industry, preferably including Development Consent Order experience.
• Team‑working and collaborative skills.
• Excellent communication skills appropriate for client‑facing interactions as well as interactions with colleagues of various levels and disciplines.
• Commercial awareness.
• An understanding of nuclear safety culture.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.
• Alignment with Mott MacDonald's core values.

Additional experience or knowledge

• Generic Design Assessment.
• Site selection and site characterisation.
• Proficiency within one or more individual environmental impact assessment topics.
• Strategic Environmental Assessment.
• Familiarity with safety case development (including environmental safety case) and the nuclear regulators.
• Lenders Technical Advisory work.
• Radioactive waste management and radiation protection.
• Specific UK nuclear licensed sites.
• International experience.
• Sustainability, including carbon management and industry standards such as BREEAM and PAS2080.

Join us at Mott MacDonald to shape a more sustainable future while advancing your career within a leading consultancy. We look forward to welcoming individuals who share our passion for making a positive impact.

Please be advised that offers for this role are conditional upon obtaining the appropriate level of Security Clearance.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well‑being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

Benefits

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long‑term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long‑term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers.
• Enhanced family and carers leave.
• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self‑development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network. Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.