Position summary

Vestas is seeking a Project Development Environmental Specialist to support the development and consenting of renewable energy projects across the UK and Ireland, with responsibility for environmental assessments, EIA coordination, consultant management, environmental risk management, stakeholder engagement, and post-consent compliance support. Based in the UK or Ireland and reporting to the Head of Vestas Development for the UK and Ireland, the role contributes directly to the delivery of onshore wind projects.

Why this role matters

This role provides the environmental expertise that gets onshore wind projects consented and built. By coordinating EIAs, advising on site selection and design, managing environmental risk across the project lifecycle, and supporting post-consent compliance, the specialist helps Vestas grow its renewable energy development activities in the UK and Ireland and advance the energy transition.

Key responsibilities

• Environmental deliverables: Oversee and coordinate environmental deliverables for onshore wind projects (feasibility, due diligence, EIAs, Environmental Statements, scoping, baseline, appendices, consent submissions), managing specialist inputs across ecology, ornithology, hydrology, peat, landscape, noise, cultural heritage, air quality, and transport.
• Environmental advice and risk: Provide environmental advice to inform site selection, design evolution, consenting strategy, and risk management, and identify, record, and manage environmental risks throughout the lifecycle.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Collaborate with engineering, grid, land, legal, planning, stakeholder, and commercial teams to embed environmental constraints and commitments into project design and delivery, supporting consenting strategies, environmental programmes, risk registers, budgets, procurement plans, and consultant scopes.
• Consultant management: Manage environmental consultants and technical specialists to deliver on time, within budget, and to quality standards, and support public consultation and stakeholder engagement, communicating technical matters to non-technical audiences.
• Post-consent compliance: Support post-consent and pre-construction activities, including discharge of planning conditions and compliance with environmental commitments, legislation, permits, company procedures, and HSE policies, undertaking site visits and preparing environmental status reports.
• Regulatory awareness: Stay current with environmental legislation, planning policy, and renewable energy consenting requirements.

Team and stakeholders

The role is part of Vestas Development's UK and Ireland team, reports to the Head of Vestas Development for the UK and Ireland, and works with internal engineering, grid, land, legal, planning, stakeholder, and commercial teams, as well as external consultants, development partners, statutory bodies, and communities.

Key details

• Locations: Warrington, London, or Edinburgh, UK.
• Travel: Up to 50 days per year within the UK and Ireland; a full driving licence is beneficial.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Ecology, Planning, Geography, Renewable Energy, Environmental Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of five years' relevant experience in environmental consultancy, renewable energy development, EIA coordination, large-scale infrastructure consenting, or a related field.
• Good understanding of UK or Irish planning and consenting regimes (Town and Country Planning, Section 36 in Scotland, NSIP/DCO, DNS in Wales, or Irish planning processes).
• Demonstrated knowledge of EIA processes, environmental legislation, planning policy, and regulatory frameworks including Habitats Regulations Assessment, protected sites, biodiversity, mitigation design, and monitoring, with familiarity across ecology, ornithology, hydrology, peat, landscape and visual impact, noise, air quality, climate, water resources, and archaeology.
• Solid IT skills including Word and Excel, plus GIS capability for site assessment, constraints mapping, and visualization.
• Willingness to travel within the UK and Ireland; fluent written and spoken English.