Lead Environmental Specialist

London | International Projects | Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)

Are you a senior environmental professional ready to take the next step into a leadership role?

We're supporting a globally recognised engineering and consulting organisation seeking a Lead Environmental Specialist to join its established London-based team. This is a unique opportunity to shape the environmental and social performance of major infrastructure and development projects across the UK, Middle East and Africa, whilst helping to grow and develop a high-performing environmental team.

Working at the forefront of sustainable infrastructure delivery, you'll provide technical leadership on complex projects, manage key client relationships and play an active role in the growth and strategic direction of the environmental practice.

As a Lead Environmental Specialist, you will oversee the delivery of large-scale Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMS), Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) and wider environmental advisory services.

You will act as a trusted advisor to clients, lead multidisciplinary project teams and provide mentorship and guidance to environmental specialists across the business.

This position combines technical excellence, project leadership, business development and team management, offering significant international exposure and the opportunity to influence projects that deliver lasting social and environmental value.

• Lead the delivery of complex ESIA, EIA, ESMS and environmental advisory projects
• Provide technical oversight and quality assurance across multiple project teams
• Manage and develop key client relationships
• Lead multidisciplinary teams and coordinate specialist sub-consultants
• Drive business development activities, including proposal preparation, client engagement and strategic growth initiatives
• Mentor, develop and support junior and mid-level environmental professionals
• Contribute to departmental strategy, resource planning and capability development
• Represent the business at client meetings, workshops and industry events
• Support major infrastructure projects throughout the project lifecycle
• Undertake international travel as required

You will be an accomplished environmental consultant with a proven track record of leading multidisciplinary projects and managing client relationships within a consultancy environment.

• Strong knowledge of international environmental and social safeguard standards (IFC, World Bank, EBRD, AfDB or equivalent)
• Experience leading project teams and managing complex stakeholder environments
• Demonstrable business development and client management experience
• Excellent report writing, presentation and communication skills
• A degree (and ideally postgraduate qualification) in an environmental, ecological or related discipline
• Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional institution

• International project experience, particularly across Africa and the Middle East
• Expertise in ecological impact assessment and management
• Strong understanding of UK planning and EIA processes
• Additional language skills including Portuguese, French or Spanish
• Technical expertise in areas such as GIS, water resources, air quality or noise assessment

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
• Significant international project exposure
• Overseas working uplifts and per diem allowances
• Medical insurance
• Performance-related bonus
• Genuine leadership and career progression opportunities
• The opportunity to influence major infrastructure projects that support sustainable development globally