Ecus will be rebranded as Cura Terrae on the 6th January 2025.

Associate Director, Environmental Planning and Consenting

Based anywhere in the UK with travel to offices and clients

Associate Director EIA Consultant

Salary Range: £50,000 plus depending on experience

Location: Nationwide

Type: Full time or part time roles available

Why Ecus?

Part of the Cura Terrae Group, Ecus is a multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy providing services to both the public and private sector. We are committed to making a positive impact on the environment through responsible and sustainable practices and we work closely with our clients to ensure outcomes match this.

With over 130 staff across eight offices in the UK, we have a proven track record of delivering multi-disciplinary environmental projects across a range of sectors, such as energy and renewables, transport infrastructure, water, commercial and residential development. Services provided in-house by Ecus include:

  • Environmental assessment and consenting, including EIA coordination.
  • Ecology, including protected species surveys and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessment.
  • Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment and Design.
  • Cultural Heritage consulting.
  • Archaeology field services including geophysical survey and trial trenching.
  • Arboricultural surveys.
  • Sustainability and climate change services.

Our team and approach

Our size and approach make us professional but personal, rather than corporate and faceless:

  • Friendly, relaxed team with accessible leadership.
  • People respected and treated as individuals rather than just drivers of utilisation.
  • Flexible working across all grades.
  • Technical experts with experience as Expert Witness in Public Inquiries and DCO Examination.

Our business

We are UK-based and focused solely on Environment:

  • Passionate about protecting our environment – it’s the reason for our existence as a company.
  • Appreciate and respond to the UK political and economic situation.
  • Flexible and agile to meet the specific needs of UK Environment market, with systems and processes to suit.
  • With access to a diverse range and scale of projects, we support clients across the whole project lifecycle, from initial feasibility and optioneering, through assessment and consenting, construction/implementation, operation and ultimately decommissioning.

The role

The Associate Director role will be part of our EIA team and will work closely with our technical discipline teams across the country to deliver a diverse array of projects. Applicants will have experience in Major Project EIA and have worked under both the DCO and Town and Country Planning regimes. Experience in the Energy and/or Water sectors is preferable, with knowledge of the transport and residential sectors also relevant.

You will play a critical role in ensuring our projects comply with all relevant environmental regulations and standards. Drawing from your expertise, you will identify potential environmental risks and propose effective mitigation measures to minimise potential environmental impacts of our clients’ projects.  You will have a proven track record of managing, coordinating and leading EIA teams to deliver high quality assessments to time and to budget. Collaboration and communication are key to successful delivery of multi-disciplinary projects such as EIAs so we are looking for candidates who are enthusiastic, positive, diplomatic and articulate.

Associate Directors will be expected to lead projects as either Project Director or Project Manager as well as contribute to business development with a focus on EIA.  At this level you will also be expected to provide guidance and mentoring to junior members of the team.

Skills and experience

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.
  • Professional membership of IEMA or CIEEM (Full or working towards this) or RTPI.
  • 10+ years consultancy experience.
  • Proven experience in delivering EIAs on medium and large projects for a range of clients under both the DCO and TCPA regimes.
  • Excellent project management experience and attention to detail.
  • Excellent communication skills and enthusiastic and confident with clients.
  • In-depth knowledge of environmental laws, regulations, and guidance.
  • Demonstrated team leadership and collaborative working capabilities.
  • Experienced in tender preparation and bid writing.

Working for us

Our culture is driven by our strength in teamwork and professionalism. We promote integrity and treat people with respect. We support each other and embrace diversity to create a place where people from every background can come together and do great things. We invest in our people and support professional development and are committed to supporting our people with their health and wellbeing.

Ecus is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in the workplace. We provide a supportive friendly working environment, offer competitive salaries, flexible working and we are proud to be an accredited Investors in People organisation.

If you feel you could fulfil this role but do not meet all of the criteria above, we’d still love to hear from you to discuss your potential.

Become part of our team!

Ecus is committed to ensuring our employees thrive. We are proud of our values, diversity and inclusion, and the benefits and opportunities we offer.

Benefits we offer

  • Flexible and hybrid working
  • Competitive Salary
  • 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
  • Additional days holiday per year worked (up to 5 additional days) after 2 years’ service
  • Company matched pension scheme
  • Employee perks scheme
  • Health Cash Plan
  • Career development and Progression (Professional Membership (s) paid)
  • Cycle to Work scheme
  • 2 paid volunteer days per year