Head of Environment

Salary:
Circa £115,000, depending on skills and experience Full-time, with flexibility for part-time. 37 hours per week/permanent

Location:

London and Peterborough - Hybrid Working 2-3 days in office weekly with attendance in Peterborough as required. Private health care Double-matched pension Car allowance Life assurance at 8 times salary

Help shape one of the UK's largest environmental infrastructure programmes At Anglian Water, we're delivering the Fens Reservoir and Lincolnshire Reservoir schemes; two nationally significant infrastructure projects that will secure future water supplies, support sustainable growth and enhance environmental resilience across the East of England. Together, they form our multi-billion-pound Reservoirs Programme, the largest and most complex infrastructure development ever undertaken by Anglian Water.

We're now looking for a Head of Environment to provide strategic leadership across both reservoir projects; ensuring environmental excellence sits at the heart of every decision, every design and every milestone on the journey to securing Development Consent Orders (DCOs). This is a rare opportunity to shape a project of national importance while helping create a lasting environmental legacy.

The Reservoirs Programme has secured significant development funding and is progressing towards securing planning consent as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects before 2030. These projects will ultimately provide a new, resilient source of drinking water for future generations. As Head of Environment, you'll play a central role in making that happen. You'll be responsible for ensuring the programme is developed sustainably, environmentally responsibly and in accordance with complex regulatory requirements.

Working at the intersection of infrastructure, environment, planning and stakeholder engagement, you'll help deliver solutions that balance the needs of communities, customers and the natural environment. This is an opportunity to influence environmental outcomes on a scale few roles can offer.

Reporting to the DCO Development Director, you’ll lead environmental strategy and assurance across both reservoir projects, providing oversight of the Delivery Partner's environmental work streams and ensuring successful integration across the wider programme. You will:

• Lead the strategic environmental direction for the Reservoirs Programme, ensuring environmental outcomes are embedded throughout project development and into the operational phase.
• Oversee delivery of a substantial environmental work programme, ensuring scope, resources, quality, performance and budgets remain aligned to programme objectives.
• Build and maintain influential relationships with key stakeholders including the Environment Agency, Natural England and other statutory consultees, and to work towards resolution of critical strategic environmental issues for the projects.
• Lead assurance of Environmental Impact Assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessments, Water Framework Directive strategies and Biodiversity Net Gain approaches.
• Provide direction and challenge to ensure environmental assessments are robust, proportionate and support a successful DCO outcome.
• Integrate environmental considerations into programme-wide decision-making and influence technical, commercial and planning strategies.
• Lead a team of specialist environmental professionals and work alongside a broad network of advisors, partners and technical experts.

We’re seeking an influential leader with a proven track record of delivering environmental strategy and consenting success on major infrastructure projects. You’ll bring:

• Extensive senior-level experience leading environmental aspects of major infrastructure or Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
• Significant experience overseeing Environmental Impact Assessments, permitting and planning approvals.
• A degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Planning, Civil Engineering or a related discipline.
• Strong understanding of environmental regulation, consenting and stakeholder engagement.
• Exceptional leadership and…