Technical Specialist Advisor; Environment

What You'll Do

As a Technical Specialist Advisor, you will provide expert environmental guidance and support across a diverse portfolio of capital and operational projects throughout Scotland. Acting as a trusted environmental specialist, you will identify environmental constraints, risks and opportunities at the earliest stages of project development, helping teams deliver successful outcomes while maintaining regulatory compliance. You will provide specialist advice on areas including ecology, archaeology, designated sites, land use and environmental legislation, working closely with project managers, engineers, planners and land specialists to ensure environmental considerations are fully integrated into project delivery.

The role will involve managing environmental surveys, specialist consultants and technical contractors, securing licences, consents and permissions from key regulators and stakeholders such as Nature Scot, SEPA and Historic Environment Scotland, and advising on mitigation measures and opportunities to enhance biodiversity and environmental performance. You will also support operational teams with environmental risks, incidents and technical challenges, while building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to help deliver the best outcomes for customers, communities and the environment.

We're looking for a confident and experienced environmental professional who can successfully balance project delivery, regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship. You will have experience assessing environmental risks across infrastructure, utilities, construction or land-based projects, along with a strong understanding of Scottish environmental legislation, policy and consenting requirements. You'll be skilled at analysing complex technical information and translating it into clear, practical advice for a wide range of stakeholders, helping project teams identify and implement effective mitigation measures to manage environmental risks.

Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills are essential, as is experience managing specialist surveys, consultants or technical work streams. You will be highly organised, capable of managing multiple priorities and deadlines, and possess strong IT skills, including experience using GIS software such as ArcGIS. A degree-level qualification in an environmental discipline, or equivalent relevant experience, is essential. Ideally, you will also hold membership of a relevant professional body such as CIEEM, IEMA, CIWEM or a similar organisation.

Experience obtaining protected species licences or environmental consents, working as an Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) or Environmental Clerk of Works (EnvCoW), and supporting projects within the water, utilities, infrastructure or construction sectors would be advantageous. A postgraduate qualification in Environmental Management or a related discipline would also be beneficial. A full UK based driving license is also required for this role.

You'll be joining a supportive team of environmental specialists and ecologists who help deliver some of Scottish Water's most important projects. Every day brings a different challenge – from supporting nationally significant infrastructure projects and securing environmental permissions, to helping resolve complex site constraints and improving environmental outcomes. Our role is simple: we help projects succeed by identifying risks early, securing the permissions needed to proceed, and providing practical environmental solutions that protect both project delivery and the environment.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced environmental…