Environmental Manager - HS2

Environmental Manager (EKFB)

Location: Southam / North Chilterns, multiple locations along 80km line of route. Hybrid schedule: 3 days office/site, 2 days home. Salary: £50,000 - £61,000 plus 12% pension and healthcare. Next step: Senior Environmental Manager (£80,000 - £90,000+ package).

Programme

HS2 Phase One - £4.2 bn EKFB Main Works Civils Contract. A major infrastructure project providing one of the UK's most environmentally ambitious railway developments. The route spans 80 km of largely rural railway, including 15 viaducts, 81 bridges, 6.9 km of green tunnels and 30 million cubic metres of excavation.

Role

The Environmental Manager reports to a Senior Environmental Manager and provides client side assurance across biodiversity, ecology, noise, air quality, carbon, hydrology, and archaeology. You will work with an Integrated Project Team, supporting technical assurance, challenging contractors, negotiating on behalf of the taxpayer, and ensuring environmental commitments are met consistently.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical assurance through production, checking, and submission of assurance evidence for technical stage gates.
• Authorize mandatory approvals by assuring contractor designs and construction works comply with EMRs and the Code of Construction Practice (CoCP).
• Manage and communicate HS2 environment and sustainability requirements to the Integrated Project Team and principal contractor.
• Offer guidance on environmental design solutions, ensuring constraints are considered from the outset.
• Support the Senior Environmental Manager with internal and external environmental reporting.
• Liaise with technical stakeholders and local communities on sensitive environmental issues.
• Collaborate with technical specialists to develop cost balanced mitigation strategies and solutions.
• Support risk identification and management across environmental disciplines throughout the project lifecycle.

What We're Looking For

We welcome candidates from a wide range of environmental backgrounds, including generalists, ecology, acoustics, air quality, carbon, contaminated land, or other specialisms. The most important attribute is the ability to apply knowledge in a complex construction environment, communicate confidently with contractors and supply chain partners, and maintain high environmental standards under programme pressure.

Essential Experience

• Experience in environmental management on major infrastructure or construction projects.
• Broad understanding across multiple environmental disciplines rather than a single narrow specialism.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including confidence to challenge more experienced contractors.
• Pragmatic, solutions focused approach to environmental management.
• Knowledge of relevant UK environmental legislation, policy and best practice.
• Understanding of Environmental Impact Assessments and/or Environmental Minimum Requirements.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across site locations.

Desirable Experience

• Client side assurance role experience.
• Experience with NEC or similar construction contracts.
• Familiarity with environmental incidents, early warnings, technical queries or contractual compliance processes.
• Background in rail, highways, utilities, aviation or other major civil engineering programmes.
• Membership of an appropriate professional institution or working towards it.

Why Join HS2?

Working on this programme offers exposure to one of the broadest environmental portfolios in UK infrastructure, with varied and challenging day to day tasks. You will collaborate with experienced specialists in an integrated team environment, enjoy long term programme security, and have a clear progression pathway to Senior Environmental Manager. This role is part of a lasting career opportunity contributing to infrastructure that will serve the country for generations.