Lead Terrestrial Consents Officer

Description

We operate across all stages of project development and delivery, from consenting strategy right through to the commencement and completion of construction, and the energisation of our projects. Our reason for being here is to provide a best-in-class consenting service to our Project Directors to ensure that their respective projects are consistently delivered to programme, cost and specification.

• Being the consenting expert for your project(s), and working with more senior consents managers, you will:
• Supporting the management of technical consultants as they produce environmental assessment/statement reports, planning deliverables, consultation reports or other supporting consent applications documents or post application discharge of TCPA conditions or ICO/DCO requirement documents.
• Implement procurement strategy for appointment of specialists Suppliers to support the assessment required for the planning consent and the quality deliverables for consent application.
• Managing various technical environmental disciplines, including archaeology, ecology, landscape and visual, traffic and transport and others as required. Even if you’re not an expert in such disciplines you will know how and when to ask intelligent questions to ensure we always produce robust, resilient consent applications.
• Work with appointed contractors to ensure legal compliance and compliance with any planning consents in key planning documents such as Construction Management Plans.
• Commercial management: financial and programme management of key workstreams/Suppliers, with monthly reporting and raising of risks, escalations to Senior Consents Manager, as required.
• Forming excellent, enduring working relationships with Engineering, Legal, Lands and External Affairs teams, challenging and collaborating in a mutually supportive way. Ensuring they are briefed on the consenting process, informed of progress.
• Provide guidance to Project Managers and Engineers on subjects such as consenting strategies and processes, consenting and environmental risks, and associated costs and timelines.
• Work with the appointed contractors and technical specialists to review documents and drawings to discharge planning Requirements/Conditions and ensure all secondary consents are in place to deliver a project. Ensure the quality of submission in terms of accuracy and suitability and track progress through the drafting, submission and discharging process.
• You will lead on engagement, build effective and ensuring relationships with external technical stakeholders (who can often determine whether a project goes ahead). For this project, these include government department, local planning authorities, the Planning & Environment Wales. You will also build relationships with key stakeholders and consultees, such as CADW, Natural Resources Wales and local community groups. You know how to bring them along by demonstrating strong influential skills and ability to take an on-balance view into how projects are developed and delivered.
• Be responsible for managing all the necessary environmental survey and assessment work across your projects. The experience of managing multi-disciplinary teams is critical, as well as the ability to assess risks and provide clear direction.

Requirements

Whilst on one hand you’re resilient, you are also compassionate. You can understand the concerns a local resident might have about a project and will do whatever you can to help support them. A collaborative mindset is essential.

We are continuing to grow our Consents Team to effectively support the development and delivery of multiple major electricity transmission projects, both on land and in the sea. We're therefore looking for highly skilled and experienced development consent, town planning and environmental assessment professionals, to work within multi-disciplinary project teams. With their purpose to obtain the consents, permissions and licences required to deliver these major engineering projects. We're also looking for people skilled in national &/or local authority and key stakeholder engagement and community consultation.

Has major project experience and ideally has taken a leading role delivering major large-scale and nationally significant infrastructure projects (through multiple consents or delivery).

• Be proficient in assessing and obtaining the most appropriate route for a deliverable consent (including secondary consents), with consideration of economic, social, environmental and political factors. Producing quality submissions for determination and/or discharge. All delivered to programme and cost, whilst maintaining &/or enhancing the reputation of National Grid.
• Demonstrating an ability to consult in an accessible and understandable way, with a variety of people in a range of different ways and showcasing your depth of project knowledge. Making sure external stakeholders understand what a project looks and feels like, and why it has to happen. For example, you might be talking to MPs, local residents or local authorities, either face-to-face, in town hall meetings or online webinars.

Benefits

Our investment in Strategic Infrastructure via The Great Grid Upgrade will mean more home-grown power, greater energy security and a cleaner future.

This role welcomes applicants UK wide, and we offer hybrid working from office and home. You'll be flexible to weekly travel throughout England, Scotland and Wales as required.

• 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays).
• Family care benefits including a back-up care service for when your usual care arrangements fall through (six paid days each year as standard with the option to purchase further days).
• A competitive salary between £55,000 - £65,000 – dependent on capability.
• Access to flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.
• Market supplement of £4,500 per annum.
• Access to apps that support health, fitness and wellbeing.
• An annual performance bonus.
• Generous contributory pension scheme - we will double-match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.
• Financial support to help cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions, course fees, books, exam fees and time off for study leave - so long as it's relevant to your role.
• The option to buy additional or sell holiday days.

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance