Associate Director – Consents Management

Assystem is a global engineering and digital services company that plays a key role in large infrastructure projects, especially those related to complex, highly regulated industries. In the infrastructure sector, Assystem works across various domains to support the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of critical infrastructure.

Assystem provides specialized Infrastructure Consents Management services to support the successful delivery of large-scale, complex infrastructure projects—particularly in highly regulated environments such as nuclear, energy, transport, and water development.

Navigating the complex web of planning permissions, environmental approvals, regulatory licenses, and stakeholder consultations is critical to the timely execution of infrastructure projects. Assystem’s consents management team ensures that all necessary permissions are identified, obtained, and maintained throughout the project lifecycle.

Job Description

About the Role:

We are looking for a skilled and strategic Associate Director – Consents Management,to lead and develop our consents team, manage operations, and support the delivery of high-quality services across a diverse portfolio of projects.

This senior role blends technical leadership, commercial management, and team development. You will oversee a team of consents managers, ensure robust project delivery, and play a central role in business planning, work-winning, and client relationship management. The ideal candidate will bring a strong consents background combined with proven leadership and business acumen.

We would expect candidates to have a strong Town Planning background and knowledge of wider consents permits and licenses required to implement new developments. We specifically seek somebody with experience within Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and a thorough understanding of the legislative requirements required under the DCO planning process.

You are to be responsible for evaluating consents and engagement requirements to ensure that Assystem deploy a cost effective and sustainable solution to our client.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Promotion and delivery of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects through Development Consent Order (DCO) legislation
• Delivery of technical engagement programmes for stakeholders including local authorities, statutory and non-statutory bodies and the general public
• Ensure preparation of and submission of high-quality planning documents, including Environmental Statements, Planning Statements, and Statements of Community Consultation.
• Stakeholder facilitation, negotiation and mediation
• Provide planning advice throughout the lifecycle of infrastructure projects—from site selection and scoping through to examination and consent.
• Planning and consenting legislation
• Coordinate input from technical disciplines to inform planning strategy and project design.
• Support the discharge of requirements post-DCO consent and assist with securing any associated consents (e.g., Section 106, Environmental Permits).
• Collaborative and cross disciplinary working
• knowledge of wider consenting regimes e.g. Environmental permits
• Project management and co-ordination of large, multi-disciplinary teams

Team and Practice Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of consents managers and town planners including senior, mid-level, and junior staff.
• Ensure team resourcing aligns with project demands, managing workloads and recruitment as needed.
• Champion best practice in Consents Management, H&S, quality assurance, and compliance with legislation and guidance.

Strategic and Commercial Management

• Develop and implement practice growth plans in line with the company’s wider strategic goals.
• Lead or support work-winning activities including tendering, fee proposals, client pitches, and framework bids.

Stakeholder and Client Engagement

• Act as a senior point of contact for clients, collaborators, regulators, and partners.
• Build and maintain strong professional networks and relationships to support business development.
• Represent the Consents Management discipline internally and externally at industry events, conferences, and forums.

Skills & Experience:

• Significant experienceand knowledge of delivering projects through Town & Country Planning Act legislation
• Prior experience of delivering a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project through the Planning Act 2008 legislation or similar including large EIA projects
• Up to date with latest developments in Professional Competence
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to develop positive internal and external relationships at all levels.
• Good negotiation / collaboration skills to ensure full support within the framework.
• Embraces and leads change with an ability to influence and implement best practice internally and at project level.
• High levels of resilience and adaptability
• Proven ability to influence and persuade key stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering stakeholder engagement and managing communications that are underpinned by a customer focus.
• Experience across a number of sectors particularly Energy, Water and Transportation

My profile

• Chartered member of appropriate relevant professional institute (e.g. MRTPI, RICS,ISEP (Formally IEMA) or similar)

Behavioural Qualities:

We place great emphasis on both written and verbal communication; those that flourish within our organisation are naturally inclined to engage with their colleagues & stakeholders alike and to be proactive in reaching out to others in overcoming hurdles.

In common with many places of work, we seek personnel that are professional, positive, open and honest. We would expect the successful candidate to exhibit, support and champion as a leader the following behavioural traits:

• Ability to see things differently – prepared to question standard approaches in order to manage consenting risks and programme deadlines
• Support and develop – create a local leadership team by delegation, coaching and mentoring
• Decisiveness – makes day-to-day business choices that have commercial implications, knowing when to inform others or ask for support.

What We Offer:

• Leadership role within a respected and growing environmental practice.
• Supportive, collaborative team environment.
• Hybrid/flexible working arrangements.
• Competitive salary and bonus structure.
• Career development pathways, training budgets, and professional support.

We are committed to equal treatment of candidates and promote, as well as foster all forms of diversity within our company. We believe that bringing together people with different backgrounds and perspectives is essential for creating innovative and impactful solutions. Skills, talent, and our people’s ability to dare are the only things that matter !. Bring your unique contributions and help us shape the future.

Are you a prospective or recent graduate?

Assystem offers you the opportunity to join our Switch to Grow UK Graduate Scheme, where you’ll gain hands on experience in engineering, digital services, and project management by working on some of the world’s most critical energy projects.

Be part of the challenge of the century; accelerating the switch to low carbon energy!