Principal Environmental Specialist - Permits & Licensing

Senior / Principal Environmental Specialist (North Sea Decommissioning)

Location: Aberdeen, UK (Flexible / Hybrid)
Sector: International Energy Consultancy
Role Type: Permanent, Full-Time

The Opportunity: Lead the Decommissioning Frontier
Our client is a premier, international multi-disciplinary energy consultancy with a 20-year track record of excellence. With over 680 experts globally, they are renowned for an integrated approach that blends engineering, environmental science, and strategic advisory.As the North Sea enters a pivotal era of asset retirement, our client is looking for a Senior or Principal Environmental Specialist to join their Permits & Licensing team in Aberdeen. This is a chance to work at the heart of the UKCS energy transition, ensuring that some of the region's most complex decommissioning projects are handled with scientific integrity and regulatory precision.

The Role: Strategic Leadership & Regulatory Mastery
In this senior-level position, you won't just be filling out forms; you’ll be architecting the environmental strategy for a diverse portfolio of oil and gas projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Permitting Authority: Lead the preparation and review of UKCS oil and gas permitting, with a specific focus on term and life chemical permitting.
• Project Governance: Act as Project Manager or Sponsor, serving as the primary point of contact for major operators and guiding them through the decommissioning lifecycle.
• Technical Mentorship: Guide and develop junior consultants, ensuring the team delivers high-quality, technically robust reports on time and within budget.
• Client Integration: Act as a strategic advisor to clients, which may include high-level liaison or dedicated secondments to provide direct support.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Work alongside subsea, engineering, and advisory teams to deliver truly integrated, sustainable solutions.

What You Bring to the TableOur client values "clever thinking" and a proactive mindset. To be successful, you should possess:

• UKCS Expertise: Significant professional experience in oil and gas permitting within the UK Continental Shelf.
• Regulatory Fluency: A deep understanding of offshore legislation and experience participating in technical working groups.
• Academic Background: A degree in a relevant discipline (Environmental Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or similar).
• Stakeholder Management: The ability to navigate complex conversations with regulators, clients, and internal technical specialists.
• Eligibility: You must be eligible to work in the United Kingdom.

Even if you don’t check 100% of the boxes, if you have a strong background in UKCS permitting and a passion for environmental stewardship, we want to hear from you.Culture & BenefitsThis consultancy is built on trust, fairness, and the idea that flexible working shouldn't be a "perk," but a standard.

• True Flexibility: A hybrid working model that allows you to find a rhythm that fits your life.
• Health & Wellbeing: Comprehensive Private Medical Insurance, Cash Plan, and an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Financial Security: Competitive market salary, robust company pension, and Life Insurance.
• Inclusive Environment: Access to several active Employee Networks (Neurodiversity, LGBTQ+, and Women’s Networks) and enhanced parental leave policies from day one.

How to Apply
To discuss this opportunity in confidence, please submit your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your experience with North Sea permitting and decommissioning projects.


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