Senior Environment Adviser

As a Senior Environment Adviser, you will play a critical role in shaping Wessex Water's infrastructure projects. We're looking for a natural communicator who's willing to speak up and advocate for Wessex Water's work. A collaborative mindset is essential, with an ability to problem-solve and be agile when faced with challenges.  

This role is about influencing design, driving quality and sustainable outcomes, and ensuring projects meet planning and environmental obligations. You'll need to understand concerns from consultees and residents and be ready to negotiate. Excellent presentation skills will enable you to clearly explain the purpose of our schemes. You'll be able to ensure that teams can understand often complex environmental requirements.  

Our colleagues have a high degree of autonomy and are responsible for a portfolio of exciting projects, all designed to improve the environment and resilience of the water supply. Rather uniquely, we can work on schemes from feasibility right through to commissioning, bringing significant job satisfaction.  

We promote a flexible and collaborative culture, welcoming of part-time or full-time applicants. You'll join a team of 50 in-house environmental professionals supported by specialist consultants, travelling to sites across the beautiful West Country.   

What you'll do

You will be:

• overseeing environmental consent applications (including planning applications, environmental permits and other consents)
• consulting with external authorities to agree on the surveys, assessments and method statements required to support individual consent applications
• interpreting permitted development/planning permission requirements and environmental constraints
• representing Wessex Water at meetings
• coordinating specialist environmental survey and assessment work within project deadlines 
• working closely with design & construction teams to provide environmental support 
• preparing or reviewing construction environmental management plans and responding to any incidents.  

What you'll need

• Excellent working knowledge of the environmental and consenting process, including EIA and planning practices and procedures.
• Experience of working with Contractors and influencing sustainability through design.
• Strong report writing and excellent verbal presentation skills with experience in reviewing the work of others to ensure quality outcomes.
• Experience in multi-disciplinary coordination with broad knowledge of environmental specialisms (for example, waste, flood risk, odour, archaeology.
• Experience in consulting and negotiating with planning authorities, regulators, and stakeholders.
• Understanding of construction techniques and pollution prevention.
• Whilst knowledge of the water industry is welcomed, candidates with experience in other infrastructure sectors such as rail, highways or energy, etc are encouraged.
• A high level of organisational skills and the ability to manage own projects, workload and deadlines.
• The ability to prioritise tasks through understanding of project timescales and programme.
• A relevant degree in an environmental or similar related subject and membership (or working towards membership) of a relevant Professional Institution.
• Good IT skills.
• A full UK driving licence (and access to a car for work purposes). 

It is preferable that you have: 

• an understanding of sewage and water treatment processes
• basic GIS skills
• an awareness of ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems.

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 sell up to five days of holiday every year.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days of holiday each year (subject to conditions).
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• The opportunity to lease a new electric car through salary sacrifice (subject to conditions).
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• Access to an interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from trained mental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone who is successfully recruited by 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 20,000 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.