Senior, Principal or Associate Consultant (Permitting and Compliance) United Kingdom in London

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects, and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

As we deliver on our growth strategy, the range of services we provide and the work we deliver is expanding. We are looking for talented people with experience delivering these services to join our established Environmental Permitting, Compliance & Nuclear Regulation team at Senior Consultant and Principal Consultant grades.

A little more about your role… At WSP, we are driven by shared purposes: technical rigour, adding value and delivering the kind of work the world genuinely needs. As part of our established and growing Environmental Permitting, Compliance & Nuclear Regulation team, you will contribute to both nationally significant and smaller projects that WSP is delivering across the United Kingdom, supporting our clients in the energy and energy transition (including nuclear), waste, industrial, manufacturing and utilities sectors manage permitting and compliance obligations. You will play a key role supporting the UK’s transition to a secure, sustainable and low carbon energy future.

You’ll join a collaborative community where your ideas are valued, your expertise is respected, and your development is supported. Whether your background is in environmental regulation, permitting, compliance, auditing, consultancy, or another relevant field, and whether your experience arises from a career in consultancy, client-side operations or the environmental regulators, we welcome your perspective.

With a degree in a relevant subject, membership of a relevant professional body and/or a recognised industry accreditation, you will bring to the team:

• A detailed understanding of the Environmental Permitting Regulations and interfacing regulations, together with the supporting guidance and broader policy considerations.
• Experience preparing Environmental Permit applications and underpinning technical assessments (including environmental risk assessments and Best Available Technique (BAT) assessments) for installations, waste operations, flood risk activity and water discharge activities, combustion activities and Permits and Consents for construction activities.
• Knowledge and understanding of industrial processes in one or more of the sectors outlined above and how this information is presented.
• Experience undertaking qualitative and/or quantitative environmental risk assessments and assessing effectiveness of mitigation measures.
• A client focused, responsive approach with demonstrable experience confidently delivering to tight timelines.
• Technical rigour and understanding of the business and project management systems that govern the work we deliver to time, cost, and quality.

You will work on both large and small projects with new and existing clients, often within multi-disciplinary teams, and you will help shape and maintain strong client relationships through high-quality delivery and trusted advice. This role offers flexibility of location, with offices across the UK, with opportunities to collaborate nationally and internationally. Occasional travel within the UK is expected.

Your Team: You will be welcomed to an established and highly capable and growing team of twenty-five Environmental Permitting experts at various stages of their careers, presenting opportunities to both mentor/guide early career professionals alongside the opportunity to learn from highly experienced experts. The Environmental Permitting, Compliance & Nuclear Regulation team sits within a wider Sustainable Resources Discipline of over 100 specialists working across a variety of sectors providing deep and broad technical advisory services to translate sustainability strategy into compliant, resilient, low-risk operational change, to make sustainability real. Our main hub for Environmental Permitting, Compliance & Nuclear Regulation is in Manchester, though we have members of the team across many of WSP’s 30 offices throughout the UK.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate… We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds. If some of the criteria below describe you, we would love to hear from you—even if you don’t meet every point.

• Self-motivated - thorough and be able to demonstrate successful collaborative delivery of tasks or projects to exacting standards.
• Client focused - able to build trust and provide well-evidenced advice at short notice as well as a proven ability to deliver to tight timelines.
• Clear communicator - able to communicate complex information clearly to clients, regulators, and multi-disciplinary teams. Skilled at tailoring messages for different audiences.

You will be committed to continuous learning and professional development; membership of a relevant professional body is welcome but not essential. Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Apply, and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities within the team.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all. Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact.

• Purpose-driven work: Contribute to nationally significant projects and the UK’s net zero ambitions.
• Inclusive culture: Work with a diverse group of professionals who value each other’s unique strengths.
• Career growth: Access sector experts, mentoring, structured development pathways and opportunities across more than 70,000 colleagues globally.
• Collaborative team: Join a friendly, respected, and expanding environmental permitting and compliance community that supports your success at every stage.

We encourage applicants from all backgrounds, including those returning to work after career breaks, those seeking flexible working arrangements, and individuals looking to transfer experience from other regulated industries.

With us, you can. Apply today.

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 11,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Work-life balance: At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community. Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.
• Inclusivity & Belonging: We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP.
• Health & Wellbeing: We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.
• Flex your time: To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.
• Your development: We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

#WeAreWSP Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.