Senior Principal Consultant - Environmental Permitting/Waste/Decomm (Nuclear)

Stantec's Nuclear team is entering an exciting phase of growth. Having secured positions on several significant multi-year frameworks, we are expanding our capability to support some of the most complex and impactful projects across the nuclear sector.

We are looking for a Principal or Senior Principal Consultant in Environmental and Radioactive Waste Management to join our growing team. With opportunities to be based in Warrington, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, Northampton, or Cambridge, this role offers the chance to work with a wide range of clients including Gigawatt-scale and Small Modular Reactor (SMR) developers, nuclear site licensees, waste management organisations, regulators, and the defence sector.

This is a unique opportunity to influence the future of the nuclear industry, supporting projects across the entire nuclear lifecycle - from new build and operational facilities through to decommissioning and the safe management of radioactive waste.

About the Role

As a Principal or Senior Principal Consultant, you will play a senior leadership role within our Nuclear team, providing specialist environmental and radioactive waste consultancy services to clients across the UK and internationally.

You will lead the delivery of technically complex projects, supporting nuclear new build and decommissioning programmes through the development of waste strategies, environmental safety cases, permitting strategies, and regulatory compliance programmes. Your expertise will help clients navigate environmental and radioactive waste management challenges while ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory requirements.

Alongside technical delivery, you will help drive the continued growth of the business through business development activities, ranging from identifying opportunities and developing client relationships to leading bids and preparing technical proposals. You will also take an active role in developing our people, mentoring colleagues, building team capability, and supporting the growth of a high performing consultancy team.

As a senior member of the business, you will contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, helping to shape internal processes, standards, and procedures to ensure we continue to deliver excellence across our projects and services.

Your Impact

In this role, you will directly influence the safe, sustainable, and effective management of radioactive materials and environmental challenges across some of the UK's most important nuclear programmes. Your advice and technical leadership will support clients in making informed decisions that balance operational, environmental, regulatory, and commercial considerations.

Through the development of waste management strategies, environmental submissions, safety cases, and regulatory engagement plans, you will help organisations successfully navigate complex challenges throughout the nuclear lifecycle. Your expertise will contribute to the safe decommissioning of legacy facilities, the development of next generation nuclear technologies, and the responsible management of radioactive waste.

Beyond project delivery, you will play an important role in shaping the future of our Nuclear business. Through business development, client engagement, mentoring, and capability building, you will help strengthen our market position, expand our client base, and support the development of the next generation of nuclear consultants.

Ultimately, your work will contribute to the advancement of safe, sustainable nuclear infrastructure, helping clients deliver critical projects that support the UK's long term energy and environmental objectives.

About You

You are an experienced environmental or radioactive waste professional with a strong track record of delivering consultancy services within the nuclear sector or other high hazard industries. You enjoy solving complex technical challenges, building strong client relationships, and contributing to both business growth and team development.

You will bring:

• Significant experience supporting environmental, radioactive waste management, or decommissioning activities within the nuclear sector
• A relevant science, engineering, or environmental degree, with postgraduate qualifications desirable
• Direct experience providing environmental and waste consultancy services to nuclear licensed sites
• Strong understanding of environmental permitting, radioactive waste management, environmental safety cases, and regulatory compliance requirements
• Experience engaging with regulators, stakeholders, and clients across complex projects
• Proven business development experience, including opportunity identification, bid leadership, tender preparation, and client management
• Strong project management skills, including project planning, cost control, governance, and delivery assurance
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing high performing teams
• Excellent technical report writing and communication skills
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of risk management within consultancy environments
• Eligibility to obtain UK Security Clearance (BPSS minimum)

Desirable experience

• Specialist expertise in environmental permitting, BAT/BPM assessments, site end state planning, or radioactive waste strategy development
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management methodologies
• Experience working on large scale, multi disciplinary, multi year infrastructure programmes

Most importantly, you will be a collaborative and ambitious leader who is passionate about helping clients solve complex environmental and radioactive waste challenges while contributing to the growth and success of Stantec's Nuclear business.

Why Join Us?

• We put people first: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.
• We do what is right: Industry leading training and development as well as paid professional subscriptions. A professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered.
• We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here: Stantec Employee Resource Groups).
• Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK - we want you to be part of it!
• Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.
• Hybrid / Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work life balance with our hybrid approach to flexible working.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.

Other Locations

Manchester, Glasgow, Northampton, Cambridge