Principal Consultant - Planning & EIA
Location: Manchester (Hybrid Working Available)
Salary: £50,000-£60,000 + benefits
Company size: <100 UK Wide
A leading environmental and planning consultancy is seeking a Principal Consultant to join its Manchester office (this is a sister company office) and take the lead on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and planning projects across the North of England and beyond. This is a senior-level role offering the chance to shape major developments in renewables, infrastructure, and property, while mentoring a growing team and contributing to strategic growth.
This position is ideal for someone with a strong background in UK planning and EIA consultancy, who's ready to combine technical delivery with leadership and client engagement in a flexible, supportive environment.
Key Responsibilities
Project Leadership
1. Manage complex EIA and planning projects from inception to completion
2. Prepare and review environmental statements, technical reports, and management plans
3. Ensure delivery meets quality, budget, and timeline expectations
4. Coordinate input from multidisciplinary teams and external specialists
Team Management
5. Line manage and support a team of consultants
6. Foster a collaborative and knowledge-sharing culture
7. Assist with resource planning and workload distribution
Client & Commercial Development
8. Serve as the main point of contact for key clients
9. Lead on bids, tenders, and fee proposals
10. Identify new opportunities across energy, infrastructure, and property sectors
Strategic Input
11. Provide expert advice in your area of specialism
12. Contribute to the strategic direction of the planning and EIA team
13. Represent the consultancy at industry events and client meetings
About You
14. Proven experience delivering EIA and planning consultancy projects in the UK
15. Strong understanding of environmental and planning legislation
16. Confident managing teams and coordinating complex workloads
17. Commercially aware with excellent client-facing skills
18. Degree-qualified in a relevant discipline (e.g. Environmental Science, Planning, Geography)
What's On Offer
19. Salary: £50,000-£60,000 depending on experience
20. Hybrid working with flexibility around office and site visits
21. Opportunities to lead high-profile projects and shape team growth
22. Supportive leadership and structured career development
23. Diverse client base across energy, infrastructure, and property
If you're ready to take the next step in your consultancy career and want to work with a company that values both technical excellence and team wellbeing, we'd love to hear from you.