Location
Penrith, Cumbria – travel to sites and offices required, with remote working available

Hours
37.5 hours per week – Some flexibility on hours available if desired

Salary
£40,000 – £50,000 per year + £5,900 annual car allowance + private healthcare + benefits

About the Role
Due to the rapid and exciting growth of our internal environmental consultancy services, we're looking for a Senior Environmental Specialist to join our team. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in delivering a diverse range of projects across the UK, spanning the road, rail, water, and property sectors. A full driving licence is essential for this role.

At Kier, we are committed to creating a workplace where everyone is empowered to achieve their career goals. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, using their skills, creativity, and passion to deliver innovative solutions for our clients and customers. We succeed because of the commitment and talent of our teams working together toward a shared purpose.

As Senior Environmental Specialist, you will support major highways projects in the north, including the A66 NTP and M6 Lune Gorge, as well as a wider portfolio of projects. You will work directly with Environmental Leads on Major Projects and collaborate with the wider Kier Design Environmental team.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:
- Leading and contributing to client, stakeholder, and technical meetings, actively promoting environmental principles, best practice, and innovation
- Supporting Environmental Leads on key Major Projects
- Working with the Construction team on site to deliver commitments in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
- Leading environmental impact assessments, identifying key environmental risks, proposing mitigation strategies, and developing management plans
- Ensuring all relevant environmental permits, licences, and consents are obtained in a timely manner
- Collaborating closely with designers to minimise environmental impacts and maximise environmental benefits
- Promoting decarbonisation, climate resilience, nature-based solutions, and innovation across the business
- Authoring and reviewing technical environmental documents
- Supporting and mentoring junior team members
- Representing the team in client, stakeholder, and technical meetings
- Driving continuous improvement of environmental processes, procedures, and related forms

Experience
- Degree in Ecology or equivalent experience
- Practitioner member of ISEP (or equivalent) and working towards CEnv
- Robust understanding of UK environmental legislation and policy
- Demonstrable experience undertaking environmental assessment for infrastructure or building projects
- UK protected species licence
- Strong working knowledge and experience of UK Habitat survey, habitat condition assessments, Defra Biodiversity Metric, and Biodiversity Net Gain plans

About you
Enthusiastic and proactive environmental professional with strong leadership skills, able to work collaboratively across teams and with clients. Committed to promoting environmental best practice, innovation, and sustainability. Able to mentor junior colleagues and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications
- Degree in Ecology or related discipline (or equivalent experience)
- Practitioner membership of ISEP (or equivalent) and progressing towards Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) status
- Full UK driving licence is essential