Principal Technical Specialist

Salary Circa £50,000+ per annum

Join us in shaping a future where nature and business thrive together

At Thomson, our purpose is simple but powerful: to enable nature and business to thrive together.

We're building a reputation as the UK's most innovative, pragmatic and fast‑growing environmental consultancy
. Our ambition is to be the first choice for clients and the employer of choice for environmental professionals
.

With offices across the UK, our multidisciplinary experts deliver exceptional outcomes across terrestrial and freshwater ecology, hydrology, marine science, GIS, habitat management, arboriculture and environmental impact assessment.

We are seeking a Principal Technical Specialist to lead and grow our dynamic Water Team
. This is a key leadership role where you will combine technical expertise, team leadership and business development to deliver complex aquatic projects and shape the future of our water services.

You will work closely with clients and colleagues to provide best‑practice advice, ensure compliance with legislation and policy, and support the successful delivery of high‑quality environmental outcomes.

• Manage team workloads, performance, training and development
• Provide technical oversight, mentoring and internal training
• Support colleagues in achieving their professional goals

• Lead and deliver large, complex hydro‑ecological projects
• Provide expert guidance on legislation, policy and best practice
• Review and approve technical reports and deliverables

• Oversee budgets, forecasting and team financial performance
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and to a high standard

• Win new work through bids, tenders and client engagement
• Build and maintain strong client relationships
• Support marketing and PR activity to promote water services

• Preliminary Ecological Appraisals and Ecological Clerk of Works
• Macroinvertebrate and water quality monitoring
• Fish population and habitat surveys
• eDNA and INNS surveys
• River habitat surveys, flow gauging and water level monitoring

• Nutrient neutrality assessments
• Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments
• Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA)
• Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
• Marine licensing and flood risk permitting

• Principal‑level experience in environmental consultancy
• Strong background in aquatic ecology, hydro‑ecology or similar
• Proven experience managing and developing staff
• Track record of winning work and building client relationships

• Strong knowledge of hydro‑ecological survey techniques, legislation and policy
• Experience delivering high‑quality reports and assessments

• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Ability to manage people, budgets and multiple projects
• Proactive, collaborative and solutions‑focused approach

Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle with business insurance.

At Thomson, we strive to be the very best at what we do—for our clients and for each other. We believe in One Thomson
: valuing every individual's unique skills and experiences, and working together to deliver exceptional service. Our people are our greatest asset. We are proud of our friendly, supportive and can‑do culture, where nothing is too much trouble. We live and breathe our RISE values - Respect, Integrity, Support and Excellence- and we are constantly evolving, with your voice helping shape our future.

We actively promote a healthy work‑life balance, offering flexibility and a supportive environment where people can thrive. We embrace new challenges, work collaboratively, and celebrate success together. We are passionate about career development. You'll have access to:

• Industry‑accredited external training
• Specialist‑led internal training
• Opportunities to work across disciplines
• The chance to contribute to and lead high‑profile, once‑in‑a‑lifetime projects

We also offer a competitive benefits package, including:

• 25 days annual leave
• Healthcare cash plan
• Enhan…