Permitting & Consent Manager

You'll take ownership of permitting and consenting workstreams across the STEP programme, managing activities from initial strategy and application development through to determination, implementation and ongoing compliance. You'll be a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, a key point of contact for regulators and a leader within an expanding regulatory and compliance function. You will also help develop the frameworks, processes and culture that support effective regulatory engagement throughout the programme lifecycle. What You'll Be Doing Lead Permitting & Consenting Activities - Manage end-to-end permit, licence, consent and exemption workstreams. - Oversee the preparation, review and submission of high-quality regulatory applications. - Ensure compliance requirements are incorporated into project planning and delivery. - Identify and manage regulatory risks, issues and dependencies. - Support the development of wider regulatory and consenting strategies. Build and Maintain Regulatory Relationships - Develop strong relationships with regulators, government departments and external stakeholders. - Act as a key representative for UKFE in regulatory discussions and engagements. - Coordinate stakeholder interactions across complex and multidisciplinary workstreams. - Support strategic regulatory engagement activities across the wider programme. Lead Assurance, Governance and Compliance - Drive consistency and quality across permitting and consenting activities. - Support audits, inspections and assurance reviews. - Maintain permitting registers, compliance records and regulatory documentation. - Produce reporting and management information for programme leadership. Lead and Develop People - Manage and mentor a small team of permitting and consenting professionals. - Provide coaching, technical oversight and quality assurance. - Promote regulatory best practice and support capability development across the organisation. - Deputise for the Head of Regulatory Compliance & Engagement when required. You'll be an experienced regulatory, permitting, licensing or consenting professional who thrives in complex and highly regulated environments. You may currently work in energy, nuclear, utilities, transport, environmental consultancy, infrastructure, engineering, construction or another sector where successful project delivery depends on securing regulatory approvals. Essential Experience - Significant experience in permitting, consenting, licensing or regulatory compliance. - Experience managing permits, licences or consents through application, submission and determination. - Experience leading, supervising or mentoring colleagues. - Strong stakeholder engagement skills and experience working with regulators or government bodies. - Excellent written communication skills with the ability to produce robust regulatory documentation. - Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously. Desirable Experience - Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and Development Consent Order (DCO) experience. - Major programme or large-scale infrastructure delivery experience. - Experience working across public and private sector environments. - Professional membership or qualifications in planning, environmental management, regulatory compliance or related disciplines. - Experience within the energy, nuclear or fusion sectors. - Previous people management and talent development experience.