Onshore Consent Lead

APEM Ltd; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental consultancy in the UK is seeking an experienced Onshore Consent Lead to drive the consenting process for major infrastructure projects. The role involves overseeing the onshore elements of complex infrastructure projects and leading multidisciplinary teams. Candidates should have proven experience in managing DCO processes and strong stakeholder management skills. This remote position offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to influence a growing team while delivering impactful projects.

Qualifications

• Experience developing, mentoring and managing EIA teams.
• Chartered status (e.g. CEnv or equivalent) is a plus.
• Broader experience across environmental assessment disciplines is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead onshore DCO processes for major infrastructure schemes.
• Serve as the technical authority for consenting strategy and Environmental Statement delivery.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary technical teams.

Skills

Proven experience as onshore DCO lead for NSIP projects

Strong experience of linear infrastructure projects

Understanding of UK planning and environmental regulatory framework

Experience delivering complex infrastructure projects

Strong stakeholder management skills

Commercial awareness

Education

Full membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. ISEP, IES, RTPI)

Job description

About The Role

Are you an experienced EIA/consenting professional who has led the onshore consenting process for nationally significant infrastructure projects? Have you successfully delivered a Development Consent Order, ideally for linear infrastructure such as transmission, interconnectors or major onshore renewables? Are you looking for a role with influence where you can stay close to delivery while shaping how a growing DCO and EIA capability evolves?

Due to continued growth and major project wins, we’re looking for an Onshore Consent Lead to strengthen our Environmental Planning UK division. This role has a clear focus on the onshore elements of complex NSIP projects, including linear infrastructure schemes delivered under the DCO regime.

You’ll play a key role across the full project lifecycle: from tendering and optioneering through to pre‑application, application, determination and post‑consent delivery. The role is hands‑on and delivery focused, leading on complex infrastructure projects while coordinating multidisciplinary technical teams and working closely with engineers, land agents, lawyers and statutory consultees.

Over time you confidently lead onshore DCO processes for major infrastructure schemes, acting as the technical authority for consenting strategy and Environmental Statement delivery whilst managing teams of EIA professionals. You’ll also work closely with APEM’s marine teams to support multi‑jurisdictional DCOs and contribute to strengthening our market position in DCO and EIA delivery across the UK.

You’ll need to bring:

• Proven experience as the onshore DCO lead for NSIP projects, with responsibility for the DCO process and Environmental Statement delivery
• Strong experience of linear infrastructure projects (e.g. transmission, interconnectors, communications or onshore renewables)
• A comprehensive understanding of the UK planning, consenting and environmental regulatory framework across England, Scotland and Wales
• Experience delivering complex infrastructure projects to budget and high technical standards
• Strong stakeholder management skills, working with clients, engineers, land agents, lawyers and consultees
• Commercial awareness, including financial management of projects and use of subcontractors
• Full membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. ISEP, IES, RTPI)>

It would be great if you also have:

• Chartered status (e.g. CEnv or equivalent)
• Experience developing, mentoring and managing EIA teams
• Broader experience across environmental assessment disciplines (e.g. post‑consent compliance, EnvCoW, SEA, ESIA)
• Additional EIA technical expertise (e.g. planning, LVIA, carbon, noise, air quality, soils, materials and waste)

This is a UK‑based remote role, offering the opportunity to lead nationally significant onshore infrastructure projects while helping shape the future direction of a growing DCO and EIA team. You’ll work closely with an experienced Director and a collaborative group of specialists, with real influence over how projects are delivered and how the capability evolves.

If you’ve delivered DCOs, understand the realities of onshore consenting for complex infrastructure, and want a senior role that balances leadership with hands‑on technical delivery, we’d love to hear from you.

Next steps

We are focused on creating a diverse and inclusive team. If you can’t tick every box on our job description, then we are still keen to hear from you and are open to supporting your development. That may be working part time or supporting you to gain experience in a specific area – we are a growing company and are able to adapt roles to reflect individual skills.

If you think you have what it takes to join our fast‑growing business, then please apply immediately on our website. All we need some basic information and your CV, we will review all applications quickly and will respond to all applications.

About Us

The APEM Group is a global environmental consultancy, we work with a range of clients including large corporations and governments to help them understand and solve a wide variety of environmental projects in the UK and globally. Our successful pioneering work has enabled us to grow and combine forces with other businesses who share our ethos and integrity. At our core, our people are working toward the protection of the environment across the globe.