Environmental Manager

Job Overview

The Environmental Manager is responsible for leading and developing the environmental management function across operations in England and Wales, ensuring compliance with environmental legislation, client requirements and ISO 14001 standards while supporting the delivery of business objectives. The role will provide strategic and operational environmental leadership across multiple infrastructure sectors including power transmission and distribution, utilities, telecommunications, civil engineering and construction activities. The Environmental Manager will drive continual improvement, environmental sustainability, biodiversity enhancement and carbon reduction initiatives whilst supporting the company’s Zero Harm and Responsible Business strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Environmental Leadership: Provide professional environmental advice and support to directors, operational leaders, project teams and clients, develop and implement environmental strategies aligned to business objectives, promote a positive environmental culture through visible leadership and engagement, lead environmental improvement initiatives across all operational activities, support the development and delivery of environmental objectives, targets, and KPIs.
• Environmental Compliance: Ensure compliance with all relevant UK environmental legislation and regulatory requirements, maintain compliance with the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Environment Act 2021, Environmental Permitting Regulations, Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, Water Resources Act 1991, Control of Pollution Act 1974, Waste Regulations and Duty of Care requirements, monitor emerging legislation, lead investigations into environmental incidents and regulatory breaches, and manage relationships with environmental regulators.
• Environmental Management Systems: Maintain and continually improve the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, lead internal audits, support external certification audits, develop environmental procedures, standards and guidance documents, ensure environmental risks and opportunities are effectively identified and managed, manage environmental legal registers and compliance obligations, and oversee environmental assurance and governance programmes.
• Operational Support: Provide environmental support throughout project lifecycles including tendering, planning, construction, commissioning and handover, review and approve construction environmental management plans, environmental risk assessments, method statements, waste management plans, pollution prevention plans and ecological management plans, conduct site inspections, audits and environmental reviews, and support operational teams in achieving environmental compliance and best practice.
• Sustainability & Net Zero: Support the development and implementation of sustainability strategies, lead carbon reduction and net zero initiatives, monitor and report environmental performance metrics, and identify opportunities for resource efficiency, waste reduction, energy efficiency and circular economy principles, while supporting ESG reporting requirements and client sustainability commitments.
• Biodiversity & Natural Capital: Support compliance with Biodiversity Net Gain requirements, develop biodiversity enhancement initiatives, liaise with ecological specialists and environmental consultants, promote sustainable land management and habitat protection measures, and support natural capital and environmental enhancement projects.
• Incident Management: Lead investigations into environmental incidents, complaints and non‑conformances, identify root causes and develop corrective and preventative actions, report significant incidents to regulators where required, monitor trends and provide performance analysis to senior leadership.
• Stakeholder Management: Build effective relationships with clients, regulators, supply chain partners, local authorities and community stakeholders, represent the business during environmental audits and client reviews, and support environmental aspects of client bids and framework submissions.
• Training & Competence: Develop and deliver environmental awareness programmes, support competency development across operational teams, provide coaching and mentoring to environmental advisors and operational management, and promote best practice and lessons learned across the business.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Ecology or related discipline.
• IEMA Practitioner (PIEMA) or Full Member (MIEMA), ISO 14001 Lead Auditor qualification, Full UK Driving Licence.
• Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) status through IEMA, CIWEM, CIEEM or equivalent professional body.
• NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate, Carbon Management qualification, Environmental Impact Assessment experience, Biodiversity Net Gain training.
• Significant environmental management experience within infrastructure, utilities, power, construction or engineering sectors, including managing ISO 14001 certified management systems, dealing with environmental regulators, supporting major infrastructure projects, environmental auditing and compliance management and incident investigation.
• Experience in power transmission and distribution, telecommunications infrastructure and renewable energy projects, ESG and sustainability reporting, and biodiversity net gain implementation.

Professional Competencies

• Leadership, strategic thinking, influencing and stakeholder management.
• Coaching and mentoring, decision making, technical environmental legislation knowledge, ISO 14001 expertise, environmental auditing, sustainability and carbon management, environmental risk management.
• Personal: strong communication skills, commercial awareness, analytical and problem‑solving ability, attention to detail, ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Performance Measures

• Environmental incident frequency and severity.
• Environmental audit performance.
• Regulatory compliance outcomes.
• ISO 14001 audit results.
• Environmental KPI achievement.
• Carbon reduction performance.
• Biodiversity and sustainability programme delivery.

Equal Opportunities Statement

At United Infrastructure, we are committed to making every interaction a positive and inclusive experience. If there is anything we can do to support you, remove barriers, or make the process more accessible, please let us know – we want this to be the best possible experience for you.

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