Principal Consents Consultant (Planning & Consents Lead)

Are you a senior planning and consenting professional with experience delivering major infrastructure projects? Are you looking for an opportunity to shape planning and consenting strategy across complex, high-profile defence and nuclear infrastructure programmes?

We are looking for an experienced Planning & Consenting Lead to provide strategic leadership across a major UK defence infrastructure programme, including future nuclear infrastructure projects.

This is a senior role where you will help shape the planning, consenting and environmental strategy for future infrastructure delivery, working closely with government teams, technical specialists, design and construction partners, regulators and other key stakeholders.

What you'll be doing

• Developing and leading strategic planning and consenting strategies across major infrastructure programmes.

• Providing expert advice on town planning, environmental permitting, marine licensing and statutory consents.

• Advising senior programme leaders on planning and consenting risks, opportunities and delivery implications.

• Leading strategies for planning applications, marine licences, exemptions and other regulatory approvals.

• Providing assurance and independent review of planning and consenting work produced by technical and delivery partners.

• Advising on Environmental Impact Assessment screening, scoping and strategy.

• Managing strategic relationships with planning authorities, regulators, government departments and statutory consultees.

• Supporting consultation strategies and stakeholder engagement.

• Identifying and managing planning and consenting risks that could impact programme cost, schedule or delivery.

• Providing strategic input into programme governance, reporting and investment decisions.

• Supporting planning appeals, reviews and potential legal or regulatory challe

What we're looking for

We're looking for an experienced planning and consenting professional who can operate confidently at a strategic level and influence senior stakeholders.

You will ideally have:

• Significant experience in planning, consenting or environmental approvals on major infrastructure programmes.

• Strong knowledge of UK planning and environmental legislation and regulatory processes.

• Experience developing planning and consenting strategies for complex projects.

• Experience working with regulators, planning authorities and statutory consultees.

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at senior level.

• Experience managing planning and consenting risks and integrating them into wider programme delivery.

• Experience within defence, nuclear, energy or other major infrastructure environments would be highly beneficial.

Key Information

• Sole UK nationals only

• Security clearance required to start

• Strategic role supporting major UK defence and nuclear infrastructure programmes