At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and grow our dynamic Water Team, delivering complex aquatic projects.
- Company: Join Thomson, the UK's innovative environmental consultancy.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days leave, healthcare plan, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Supportive culture with a focus on work-life balance and diversity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the environment while leading a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Principal-level experience in environmental consultancy and strong aquatic ecology background.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 62500 € per year.
Salary Circa £50,000+ per annum
Join us in shaping a future where nature and business thrive together. At Thomson, our purpose is simple but powerful: to enable nature and business to thrive together. We're building a reputation as the UK's most innovative, pragmatic and fast‑growing environmental consultancy. Our ambition is to be the first choice for clients and the employer of choice for environmental professionals. With offices across the UK, our multidisciplinary experts deliver exceptional outcomes across terrestrial and freshwater ecology, hydrology, marine science, GIS, habitat management, arboriculture and environmental impact assessment.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Principal Technical Specialist to lead and grow our dynamic Water Team. This is a key leadership role where you will combine technical expertise, team leadership and business development to deliver complex aquatic projects and shape the future of our water services. You will work closely with clients and colleagues to provide best‑practice advice, ensure compliance with legislation and policy, and support the successful delivery of high‑quality environmental outcomes.
What You'll Be Doing
- Leadership & Team Development
- Manage team workloads, performance, training and development
- Provide technical oversight, mentoring and internal training
- Support colleagues in achieving their professional goals
- Technical Delivery
- Lead and deliver large, complex hydro‑ecological projects
- Provide expert guidance on legislation, policy and best practice
- Review and approve technical reports and deliverables
- Project & Financial Management
- Oversee budgets, forecasting and team financial performance
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and to a high standard
- Business Development
- Win new work through bids, tenders and client engagement
- Build and maintain strong client relationships
- Support marketing and PR activity to promote water services
Example Projects & Deliverables
- Field & Survey Work
- Preliminary Ecological Appraisals and Ecological Clerk of Works
- Macroinvertebrate and water quality monitoring
- Fish population and habitat surveys
- eDNA and INNS surveys
- River habitat surveys, flow gauging and water level monitoring
- Environmental Assessments
- Nutrient neutrality assessments
- Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments
- Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA)
- Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
- Marine licensing and flood risk permitting
Essential Experience
What We're Looking For
- Principal‑level experience in environmental consultancy
- Strong background in aquatic ecology, hydro‑ecology or similar
- Proven experience managing and developing staff
- Track record of winning work and building client relationships
Technical Expertise
- Strong knowledge of hydro‑ecological survey techniques, legislation and policy
- Experience delivering high‑quality reports and assessments
Skills
- Excellent communication and organisational skills
- Ability to manage people, budgets and multiple projects
- Proactive, collaborative and solutions‑focused approach
Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle with business insurance.
Working at Thomson
At Thomson, we strive to be the very best at what we do—for our clients and for each other. We believe in One Thomson: valuing every individual's unique skills and experiences, and working together to deliver exceptional service. Our people are our greatest asset. We are proud of our friendly, supportive and can‑do culture, where nothing is too much trouble. We live and breathe our RISE values - Respect, Integrity, Support and Excellence- and we are constantly evolving, with your voice helping shape our future. We actively promote a healthy work‑life balance, offering flexibility and a supportive environment where people can thrive. We embrace new challenges, work collaboratively, and celebrate success together. We are passionate about career development. You'll have access to:
- Industry‑accredited external training
- Specialist‑led internal training
- Opportunities to work across disciplines
- The chance to contribute to and lead high‑profile, once‑in‑a‑lifetime projects
We also offer a competitive benefits package, including:
- 25 days annual leave
- Healthcare cash plan
- Enhanced stakeholder pension scheme
- Life insurance
- Discounted gym membership
- Paid professional memberships
- Clothing allowance
- Performance‑related rewards and long service awards
- Free parking
- Regular social and company events
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
As an equal opportunities employer, Thomson is committed to the fair and equal treatment of all current and prospective employees. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We are building a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We believe diversity strengthens our team and enhances the work we do.
Ready to make a difference? If you're a skilled and motivated professional looking for a role where you can lead, influence and deliver meaningful environmental impact, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and be part of Thomson's journey.
Principal Technical Specialist employer: Thomson Environmental Consultants
Thomson is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and collaborative work culture where every individual's unique skills are valued. With a strong emphasis on career development, employees benefit from industry-accredited training, opportunities to lead high-profile projects, and a competitive benefits package that promotes work-life balance. Join us in our mission to enable nature and business to thrive together, and be part of a team that celebrates success and embraces new challenges.
Contact Detail:
Thomson Environmental Consultants Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Technical Specialist
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the environmental consultancy field. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues or clients on LinkedIn.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Prepare a portfolio of your best work and be ready to discuss specific projects during interviews. Highlight your leadership skills and how you've successfully managed teams and complex projects in the past.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers. Focus on demonstrating your technical knowledge and how you can contribute to Thomson's mission of enabling nature and business to thrive together.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Thomson and making a meaningful impact in the environmental sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Technical Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Technical Specialist role. Highlight your experience in aquatic ecology and project management, as well as any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at Thomson!
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of your successes! Whether it’s a project you led or a client relationship you built, we love to see quantifiable results that demonstrate your impact in previous roles.
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We value a friendly and supportive culture at Thomson, so don’t hesitate to show us who you are and what drives you. A genuine passion for environmental consultancy will definitely catch our eye!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Thomson Environmental Consultants
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of hydro-ecological survey techniques and relevant legislation. Being able to discuss specific projects you've worked on and how they relate to the role will show that you're not just familiar with the field, but that you're passionate about it too.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Technical Specialist, you'll be expected to lead a team. Prepare examples of how you've managed workloads, mentored colleagues, or developed team members in the past. Highlighting your leadership style and how it aligns with Thomson's values will set you apart.
✨Demonstrate Business Acumen
Thomson is looking for someone who can win new work and build client relationships. Be ready to discuss your experience with bids, tenders, and client engagement. Share specific examples of how you've successfully developed business opportunities in previous roles.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Thomson values a collaborative approach, so be prepared to talk about how you've worked with cross-functional teams in the past. Discuss how you’ve contributed to achieving common goals and how you handle challenges in a team setting. This will show that you fit well within their culture.
