Environmental Impact Assessment Specialist

Are you looking for an exciting new opportunity? Would you like the satisfaction of helping secure water supplies across the southwest? Do you have proven experience in environmental impact assessment (EIA) for infrastructure developments? If so, we have a great opportunity for you to join our team, helping to deliver crucial upgrades in drinking water across our region.  

You will be working for West Country Water and Environment on behalf of Wessex Water (employer) on three major new water supply schemes.  The role will be based in Bath with hybrid and flexible working arrangements available.

What you'll do

You will be joining a team of passionate and motivated people. We are delivering our Regional Strategic Options in Cheddar, Poole and the Mendip Quarries. These are key projects to enable us to secure sustainable drinking water while ensuring protection of the environment.  Further information on the programme is available here: About us at West Country Water and Environment | West Country Water and Environment

The schemes will be submitted for Development Consent Orders, Town and Country Planning applications, and elements of permitted development. Your tasks will include:

• providing advice on the design of projects, the EIA process, and subsequent applications for development consent
• advising on proposed surveys to be carried out by specialists and then reviewing reports
• consulting on the schemes at public meetings, workshops, and presenting to parties such as Ofwat
• applying your excellent organisation and time management skills and helping to problem solve when issues arise
• you will need to visit sites in the south west to better inform the risks on our projects. Weekly meetings are held at offices in Bath. Attending site visits requires you to drive and be comfortable in outdoor conditions of varying terrain throughout the year
• working with the wider Wessex Water team of Environment and Planning Advisers as required.

What you'll need

In this exciting and varied role, we are looking for:

• experience of applying EIA and mitigation to achieve high quality schemes, maintaining programme and delivery throughout a project. Able to liaise with a multi-disciplinary consents team
• negotiation and presentation skills to present concisely to wide audiences, from local interest groups to planning authorities
• a UK driving licence with your own car that can be used for business use throughout the week. Mileage will be paid
• able to use Microsoft Office suite including Powerpoint and Excel
• strong written and verbal communication abilities
• excellent time management and be highly organised, to enable you to proactively manage your own deadlines and to coordinate wider project milestones
• motivation, with a curiosity to learn and problem solve, and ability to work collaboratively
• you will ideally have a degree or masters in a planning or environment specialism, or equivalent experience, and membership of a professional institute
• some knowledge of how Biodiversity Net Gain applies to infrastructure planning
• GIS skills are beneficial
• an awareness of ISO14001 Environmental Management System.

Preferred experience, but not essential: 

• knowledge of the water industry and associated construction techniques
• experience of infrastructure planning and environmental assessment
• knowledge of working on linear schemes such as pipelines, or transferable skills from other sectors such as highways or rail.

What you'll receive

• A combined pension contribution of up to 20%.
• Career progression and professional development opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days' holiday and sell up to five every year.
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• A new electric car in exchange for part of your gross salary, subject to conditions.
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• An interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from mental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone to work for us.

Who we are

YTL UK is part of the international YTL Group based in Kuala Lumpur. The UK companies include:

• Wessex Water – one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9 million people across the South West.
• YTL Developments – a major UK developer currently redeveloping a 350 acre former airfield into an award winning, exciting mix of houses, apartments, schools, commercial space, restaurants and hotels, to make a truly sustainable new community.
• YTL Construction UK – a top 20 UK contractor providing fully integrated services to infrastructure, residential, commercial, industry, energy and environmental sectors.
• YTL Arena – the development and operation of an entertainment complex that includes a 19,000 capacity arena, conferencing and exhibition space.
• Plus a number of other retail, environmental and specialist businesses.

Our people tell us that YTL UK is a great place to work, which is why so many of them stay with us! You will have a unique opportunity to develop and progress your career within such a diverse group.

We are passionate about diversity and inclusion – with that in mind, all applicants are welcome. We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer.  

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please inform a member of our Recruitment team.