Environment Technical Lead

Overview

Joining Arup. We work with infrastructure developers, property companies, governments and landowners to embed effective management of land, air and water through planning, delivery and operation of new and retrofit projects. Our service is comprehensive, including air quality, biodiversity, noise, community engagement, environmental assessment and management, land quality, water, resources and waste, and the maintenance and protection of historic environments.

We are looking for a leader with strong technical expertise in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and a proven ability to win work. You will play a key role in developing and growing our environmental offer, with a particular focus on Welsh clients and the legislative context of Wales. This includes providing strategic direction for our environmental services, defining scope, planning fees and programmes, and leading bid development.

You will build trusted relationships with clients, regulators and key stakeholders, ensuring a “no surprises” approach and a reputation for excellent delivery. In addition, you will provide technical direction and strategic assurance to project teams so that our advice and outputs meet client expectations and reflect best practice.

As a leader in our Cardiff office, you will be part of a high-performing and supportive team of environmental professionals. You will mentor and upskill junior colleagues, support their career development, and help build a resilient, future-ready team. This includes providing regular coaching and feedback, identifying stretch opportunities, and fostering continuous development. You will also support technical reviews, knowledge sharing and professional development, including chartership and CPD goals, while collaborating with other team leads and disciplines to share best practice and contribute to the overall success of the CSS Environment team.

You are an experienced and adaptable environmental professional who can operate confidently at both strategic and technical delivery levels. You combine strong technical foundations with a commercial mindset and the ability to build trusted relationships across clients, teams and disciplines. We are looking for someone who brings:

• In-depth knowledge of the regulatory, environmental and planning landscape across sectors, with particular focus on Water, Energy and Transport.
• Proven experience leading environmental input on major infrastructure projects, ideally within the water or utilities sector.
• The ability to develop client relationships, secure new work and deliver successful bids and proposals.
• A collaborative approach to project delivery, working closely with engineers, planners, regulators and stakeholders to achieve high-quality outcomes.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, combined with a constructive approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
• Chartered status with a relevant professional body (such as CEnv, IEMA or CIWEM).

The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker who can anticipate future needs, drive innovation in service delivery and support a resilient, future-ready team. You will have a genuine passion for mentoring and supporting others, creating an inclusive team culture where individuals can thrive. Calm and pragmatic under pressure, you will demonstrate strong organisational skills and attention to detail. As an inclusive and thoughtful leader, you will create space for others to grow and perform at their best.

You will communicate with confidence, building trust and influencing effectively at all levels. Above all, you will be committed to technical excellence and continuous improvement, fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration and learning across the team.

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all our members can belong, grow and thrive through benefits that support health and…