Principal – Natural Capital

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** Job Description**## Overview Are you passionate about shaping a more sustainable future where measuring and valuing natural capital drives better decisions for people and the planet? Do you have technical environmental expertise, strong project management experience, and commercial awareness? If so, you may have the drive and skills to join AtkinsRéalis as a Principal Consultant in our Natural Capital and Environmental Economics team.

You will play a key role in leading and delivering high-quality projects, managing multidisciplinary teams and developing strong client relationships. You will join our highly respected technical team at an exciting time and help grow our reputation for innovation and technical excellence, while further developing our services and pipeline of work across an extensive client portfolio.

We develop and use state-of-the-art approaches and our innovative in-house tools to assess, quantify and value the benefits of changes in ecosystem services at various scales, from strategic to scheme level. You can see some examples of our work here Valuing Our Natural Capital:
The AtkinsRéalis Approach. Our natural capital team offers a unique blend of skills, comprising experts in environmental economics, environmental science and spatial analysis, with an ambitious strategy for continuous innovation. You will have the opportunity to work with and influence our clients directly, supporting them on tackling the climate and biodiversity crises.##

Your role
* You will play a central role in leading and delivering projects with a natural capital focus, while also supporting wider Biodiversity Net Gain, Nature Positive, Net Zero and Social Value initiatives across a variety of projects throughout the business. Working as a recognised specialist within your field, you will provide technical leadership and oversight, ensuring high-quality outputs are delivered to time, cost and quality requirements.
* You will lead multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate inputs from colleagues across AtkinsRéalis, applying your professional judgement to complex challenges and helping clients navigate an evolving policy, regulatory and commercial landscape.
* The role will involve managing project programmes, budgets and resources, building trusted client relationships, and identifying opportunities to deliver additional value through our wider environmental and infrastructure capabilities.
* You will contribute to and lead proposals and bids, supporting the growth of our natural capital and environmental economics portfolio, while also helping to shape innovative approaches, methodologies and digital tools that strengthen our technical offer.
* As a senior member of the team, you will coach and mentor junior colleagues, contribute to technical networks and capability development activities, and promote technical excellence both within AtkinsRéalis and externally through engagement with clients, industry groups and the wider profession.## About youWe are seeking an enthusiastic and ambitious Principal Consultant to join our growing Natural Capital and Environmental Economics team.
* A degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. Environmental Economics, Environmental Science and Policy, Ecology or Geography) and preferably a relevant post-graduate qualification.
* Chartered status with a relevant professional body such as CIWEM, CIEEM, ISEP, IES or equivalent.
* Technical experience in the application of natural capital assessments, natural capital accounting and/or environmental economics techniques.
* Experience of undertaking economic valuation and applying natural capital approaches to support decision-making.
* Experience in project management, bid development, technical leadership and mentoring of junior colleagues.
* Excellent communication skills and the ability to adapt your presentation style to different audiences, including non-specialists.
* Strong organisational skills, commercial awareness and the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and to deadlines.
* Excellent collaborative working skills to ensure we get the best from our working relationships with internal multidisciplinary teams, and build trusted relationships with clients.
* Experience with emerging nature markets and green finance would be desirable.## Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of…