Associate Director - Consents Management

Role: Associate Director – Consents Management

Contract: Full time

Ardent is the UK’s leading provider of land, consent management and stakeholder engagement services, supporting major infrastructure and regeneration projects from concept to delivery. Established in 1992, we are a fast‑growing, purpose‑led business working at the heart of the UK and Ireland’s net zero, growth and regeneration agendas.

The opportunity

This is a senior, high‑impact role within an emerging and specialist discipline. You’ll lead the strategic management of Development Consent Orders (DCOs), Transport and Works Act Orders (TWAOs) and other major consents, integrating them seamlessly into design, procurement and construction.

You’ll work at the centre of multi‑disciplinary teams – planners, engineers, environmental specialists, legal advisers, land teams and engagement professionals – ensuring consents are not just achieved, but are buildable, compliant and deliverable.

As a people leader, you’ll also play a key role in developing capability, shaping our Consent Management offering and living our values every day.

What you’ll do

• Lead the end‑to‑end management of consent programmes across major infrastructure and regeneration projects
• Develop and maintain consent roadmaps, programmes, risk registers and dependencies
• Coordinate and integrate multi‑disciplinary inputs to deliver high‑quality, audit‑ready consent documentation
• Provide senior leadership on statutory consultation and engagement activity
• Manage DCO/TWAO risks, issues and dependencies to reduce programme uncertainty
• Lead post‑consent implementation, including condition/requirement discharge and construction readiness
• Embed consent obligations into design and construction activity
• Mentor and develop project managers and junior team members
• Drive innovation, continuous improvement and best practice in consent project management
• Champion health, safety, wellbeing, inclusion and high performance

About you

You’ll be an experienced leader with a strong background in project management within major infrastructure or regulated environments, and a good understanding of complex planning and consenting processes.

You’ll bring:

• Proven experience managing complex, multi‑disciplinary programmes
• Knowledge of DCO, TWAO or other major consent regimes
• Experience integrating consents into design and construction delivery
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• The ability to lead, inspire and develop high‑performing teams
• Excellent organisational, analytical and problem‑solving capabilities
• A commitment to learning, improvement and quality

Why join Ardent?

We’re a values‑led business with a strong focus on culture, learning and impact. You’ll have the opportunity to work on some of the UK and Ireland’s most significant infrastructure and regeneration projects while developing your career in a supportive, collaborative environment.

We offer:

• Hybrid working from day one
• 25 days’ annual leave (with buy/carry‑over options)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Company pension scheme
• Benenden Health Care (including mental health support and 24/7 GP access)
• Cycle to Work and electric car leasing schemes
• Recognition awards, long service leave and discretionary annual bonus
• A company‑wide coaching programme and clear development pathways

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer, and we’re passionate about creating a workplace where you’re empowered to bring your authentic self to work every day. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team where everyone belongs. We welcome talent from all backgrounds and actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups.

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