Environmental Consultant Job Description
Hire an Environmental Consultant to assess site risks, advise on compliance and deliver technically robust environmental reports and plans for your projects. Ideal for consultancies, developers and public sector teams that need practical, evidence-based environmental advice.
What does a Environmental Consultant professional do?
An Environmental Consultant provides technical assessment, regulatory advice and practical mitigation measures for clients managing environmental risk and compliance.
Environmental Consultant job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Environmental Consultant
About the role
[Company Name] is looking for an Environmental Consultant to join our team in [Location]. You will undertake site assessments, prepare technical reports (including contaminated land and EIA inputs), design mitigation and monitoring measures, and advise clients on regulatory compliance. This is a [Full-time/Part-time], [Permanent/Fixed-term] role. Salary: [Salary Range].
Key responsibilities
- Plan and undertake site-based surveys and investigations (soil, groundwater, ecology and Phase I/II assessments) with safe working practices.
- Prepare clear technical reports, risk assessments and practical recommendations for clients and regulators.
- Support contaminated land assessments, remediation strategy development and verification monitoring.
- Contribute to environmental impact assessments (EIA) and planning submissions, including producing technical chapters and appendices.
- Provide regulatory compliance advice, prepare permit applications and respond to statutory consultations where required.
- Liaise directly with clients, contractors, regulators and third parties to manage project delivery and expectations.
- Manage project budgets and timelines, produce proposals and progress reports, and maintain project documentation.
- Implement quality assurance processes and ensure health & safety and environmental procedures are followed on site and in the office.
Essential skills and experience
- Practical experience of field surveys and sampling for soil and/or groundwater (consultancy or related role).
- Proven technical report writing skills with examples of environmental assessments or desk studies.
- Good working knowledge of UK environmental legislation and statutory processes relevant to planning, contaminated land and permitting.
- Strong organisation and project management skills, able to manage multiple projects to deadlines.
- Full UK driving licence or ability to travel regularly to site locations.
Desirable
- Degree in Environmental Science, Geology, Ecology, Environmental Engineering or a related discipline.
- Experience producing EIA inputs, planning submissions or supporting permitting applications.
- Membership or accreditation with a professional body (for example IEMA, CIWEM or similar).
- Familiarity with GIS, modelling tools or laboratory data interpretation.
- Experience of business development, tender writing and client relationship management.
What we offer
- [Pension scheme]
- [Generous annual leave entitlement]
- [Flexible / hybrid working options]
- [Training and professional development budget]
- [Private medical or health cash plan]
- [Company vehicle allowance or mileage reimbursement]
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is an Environmental Consultant role?
Environmental Consultants assess and manage environmental risks for clients across development, infrastructure and industrial projects. They carry out site investigations, interpret laboratory data, prepare regulatory and planning reports, and recommend remediation or management measures. Their work balances technical analysis, clear reporting and liaison with clients and regulators to achieve compliant, cost-effective outcomes.
Typical employers
Consultancies, construction and engineering firms, local authorities, utilities and industry operators.
Working environment
Mixture of office-based technical work and frequent site visits, often across multiple project locations.
Progression
Senior consultant, project manager, technical specialist or client-facing advisory and business development roles.
Typical Environmental Consultant responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Plan and undertake site-based surveys
Plan and undertake site-based surveys and investigations (soil, groundwater, ecology and Phase I/II assessments) with safe working practices.
Prepare clear technical reports
Prepare clear technical reports, risk assessments and practical recommendations for clients and regulators.
Support contaminated land assessments
Support contaminated land assessments, remediation strategy development and verification monitoring.
Contribute
Contribute to environmental impact assessments (EIA) and planning submissions, including producing technical chapters and appendices.
Provide regulatory compliance advice
Provide regulatory compliance advice, prepare permit applications and respond to statutory consultations where required.
Liaise directly with clients
Liaise directly with clients, contractors, regulators and third parties to manage project delivery and expectations.
Manage project budgets
Manage project budgets and timelines, produce proposals and progress reports, and maintain project documentation.
Implement quality assurance processes
Implement quality assurance processes and ensure health & safety and environmental procedures are followed on site and in the office.
Environmental Consultant skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Practical experience of field surveys and sampling for soil and/or groundwater (consultancy or related role).
- Proven technical report writing skills with examples of environmental assessments or desk studies.
- Good working knowledge of UK environmental legislation and statutory processes relevant to planning, contaminated land and permitting.
- Strong organisation and project management skills, able to manage multiple projects to deadlines.
- Full UK driving licence or ability to travel regularly to site locations.
Useful where relevant
- Degree in Environmental Science, Geology, Ecology, Environmental Engineering or a related discipline.
- Experience producing EIA inputs, planning submissions or supporting permitting applications.
- Membership or accreditation with a professional body (for example IEMA, CIWEM or similar).
- Familiarity with GIS, modelling tools or laboratory data interpretation.
- Experience of business development, tender writing and client relationship management.
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Environmental Consultant job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Lead with practical tasks
Start the advert by describing the day-to-day activities (site assessments, sampling, reporting). Candidates prioritise clear expectations of field vs office work.
Specify required experience
State the minimum field and report-writing experience you need rather than only listing academic qualifications.
Be clear about travel and site exposure
Tell applicants how much travel and lone-working is typical, and whether vehicle use is required.
Highlight professional development
Mention CPD support, chartership routes or training budgets to attract candidates invested in career progression.
Environmental Consultant salary considerations
Salary for Environmental Consultants varies widely. Use role seniority, sector and project complexity to set an appropriate range rather than relying on a single benchmark.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Environmental Consultant candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
How much travel and site work is involved?
Specify average weekly site days, travel distance expectations and whether overnight stays are occasional or regular.
Who will the role report to and what is the team structure?
Describe line management, the size of the technical team and the expected level of autonomy.
What training and CPD support is offered?
Candidates will want to know about budgets for courses, chartership support and internal mentoring.
Are there specific health & safety or site inductions required?
List mandatory H&S training, PPE expectations and whether CSCS, confined space or work-at-height certificates are needed.
What are the typical working hours and flexibility?
Clarify core office hours, possible early/late site starts and any flexible or hybrid working arrangements.
Where to post a Environmental Consultant job
For Environmental Consultant roles use a mix of broad job boards and sector-focused channels. Post on general UK job sites for wider reach, specialist environmental or engineering job boards to target technically qualified candidates, and professional networks (LinkedIn, IEMA/CIWEM groups) for experienced consultants. Also consider local recruitment channels and university alumni pages when recruiting junior graduates or placement candidates.
Related environment & sustainability job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Environmental Consultant job description FAQs
Do Environmental Consultants need specific licences or certifications?
There is no single mandatory licence for the role, but specific projects may require CSCS, confined space, or asbestos awareness training. Professional memberships (IEMA, CIWEM) and chartered status are advantageous but not always essential.
What pre-employment checks should employers carry out?
Standard checks include right-to-work, references and verification of claimed qualifications. Additional checks depend on the role — for example medical fitness for site work or security vetting for certain client sites.
How long does it typically take to recruit for this role?
Recruitment times vary by seniority and market conditions; expect several weeks to a few months for mid to senior-level consultants due to interview rounds and technical assessments.
Should I require a degree?
A degree in a relevant discipline is common but not universally necessary if the candidate has demonstrable field experience and technical reporting capability. Be clear which you prefer and whether equivalent experience is acceptable.
How do I assess practical field skills during recruitment?
Ask for specific examples of site work, request sample reports (redacted if necessary), include a practical scenario in interviews or use a short technical assessment to evaluate sampling and interpretation skills.
Ready to hire an Environmental Consultant?
Create your vacancy now or download the editable template to customise the advert for your organisation. Use the role checklist to confirm essential field skills and site requirements before publishing.
