Principal / Senior Associate Environmental Consultant in Manchester

Role Overview

Deliver and support natural capital and ecosystem services assessments for a wide range of projects in the UK and internationally. Apply your knowledge of environmental economics and ecosystem service valuation to inform robust, evidence-based decisions. Contribute to projects in a variety of locations, including potential opportunities to support assignments in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia.

Responsibilities

• Gather and analyse data using net gain metrics and recognised approaches from organisations such as the Environment Agency, Natural England, and UNEP.
• Provide environmental input to Strategic Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Assessments to support sustainable decision-making.
• Help develop environmental net gain strategies for major projects and programmes.
• Use and help shape digital tools, dashboards, and GIS-based approaches that improve efficiency, insight, and innovation in assessment work.
• Support business growth by identifying opportunities to enhance services through digital innovation and smarter metric development.
• Help identify emerging opportunities in environmental monitoring and related areas of growth.

Qualifications

• A degree in environmental science, ecology, geography, natural capital, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience of working in environmental consultancy, a regulatory body, academia, or a similar professional setting.
• A sound understanding of natural capital principles, ecosystem services, and the role these play in decision-making, environmental planning, sustainability, and nature-positive outcomes.
• Knowledge of relevant UK environmental legislation, policy and planning processes, and an understanding of how natural capital can inform appraisal, design, consenting, and strategic decision-making.
• Experience of preparing clear, accurate and concise technical outputs, such as natural capital assessments, ecosystem services appraisals, environmental reports, option appraisals, or related technical deliverables.
• Strong communication, collaboration and organisational skills, with the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams and manage competing priorities in a client-focused environment.

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject.
• Membership of a relevant professional body such as IEMA, IES, CIEEM, CIWEM, or equivalent, or working towards chartership/professional accreditation.
• Experience of applying natural capital approaches to infrastructure, water, transport, energy, planning, or land-use projects.
• Experience in GIS or other geospatial and data-analysis tools, including interpreting spatial data to support environmental assessment and decision-making.
• Experience of environmental net gain, biodiversity net gain, ecosystem service mapping, carbon sequestration assessment, or opportunities and constraints mapping.
• Commercial awareness, including contributing to bids, proposals, client discussions, or service development.
• Interest in innovation, digital tools, and new approaches to environmental monitoring, scenario analysis, and decision-support.

Personal Attributes

• Curious, proactive and solutions-focused, with a genuine interest in the value of nature and how it can be embedded in project delivery.
• Balanced technical rigour with practical, client-ready advice.
• Collaborative and inclusive, willing to learn from others and share knowledge across teams.
• Motivated to develop professionally and contribute to a growing area of the business.

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.

Accessibility

If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will discuss how we can support you.

Benefits

• Financial wellbeing: match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%; life assurance equal up to 4x basic salary, with option to increase to 6x; income protection scheme; flexible life assurance and critical illness insurance.
• Employee ownership model.
• Health and wellbeing: private medical insurance for all UK colleagues; health cash plan; access to wellbeing support program.
• Flexible benefits: including health benefits that may be extended to family.
• Competitive holiday entitlement: minimum 33-35 days per year, inclusive of public holidays, with increase to 35 days after 5 years of service.
• Leave: enhanced family and carers leave, paid maternity, adoption, and paternity/partner leave.
• Learning and development: annual professional institution subscription; mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.