Senior Consultant - Nature and Environment
ICF · London, United Kingdom +3 · 1d ago
The Senior Consultant – Nature and Environment will support the delivery and growth of ICF’s portfolio of work for Defra and its arm’s-length bodies, with a particular focus on natural environment policy. The role is designed for someone who can combine strong project management with relevant technical, research and policy expertise. The postholder will manage multiple projects, contribute directly to technical delivery, and support the mobilisation of new work across biodiversity, nature recovery, protected sites and related environmental policy areas.
Key responsibilities
Technical delivery – nature and environment
- Contribute technical expertise to monitoring, evaluation, research and learning projects in the natural environment field.
- Support the design of evaluation questions, theories of change, monitoring frameworks, research methods and evidence synthesis approaches.
- Undertake and oversee qualitative and quantitative research, analysis and reporting, ensuring outputs are robust, practical and accessible to policy audiences.
- Apply knowledge of UK environmental policy and delivery contexts to interpret evidence and develop useful conclusions and recommendations.
- Provide technical review and quality assurance for the work of junior colleagues and delivery partners.
Project and delivery management
- Manage a portfolio of small and medium-sized nature- and environment-related projects, taking responsibility for delivery planning, resourcing, budgets, risks, quality and client reporting.
- Mobilise new projects quickly, establishing proportionate governance, clear roles, realistic workplans and effective project controls.
- Coordinate multidisciplinary ICF teams and delivery partners, ensuring inputs are integrated and deadlines are met.
- Monitor progress, dependencies, risks and financial performance, taking timely corrective action where required.
- Maintain clear and constructive client relationships, provide concise progress updates and manage changes to scope or delivery expectations
Business development and portfolio support
- Contribute to project plans and bids, including shaping methods, workplans, resourcing and budgets.
- Work flexibly across ICF’s environment portfolio, supporting priority projects and emerging client needs.
- Help identify opportunities to retain and grow nature and environment work within ICF.
- Support the development of reusable methods, tools, guidance and learning across the team.
- Coach junior staff, supporting their technical and project delivery development.
Qualifications and experience
- Degree or equivalent professional experience in environmental policy, ecology, environmental science, social research, evaluation, economics or a related discipline.
- Relevant consulting, research, policy or programme delivery experience, with demonstrable responsibility for managing projects or substantial workstreams.
- Knowledge of UK natural environment policy and delivery, such as biodiversity, nature recovery, protected sites, land management or environmental monitoring.
- Experience of monitoring, evaluation, applied research or evidence-based policy work.
- Strong project management skills, including planning, resourcing, risk management, budget oversight and quality assurance.
- Ability to contribute technically while maintaining oversight of delivery, commercial performance and client requirements.
- Strong analytical, written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear client-ready outputs.
- Experience working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and external partners.
Desirable experience
- Experience delivering work for Defra, its arm’s-length bodies or other UK public-sector clients.
- Experience of theory-based, process, impact or value-for-money evaluation.
- Knowledge of biodiversity targets, nature recovery, protected sites or place-based environmental delivery.
- Experience managing supplier or partner inputs within a consultancy delivery model.
- Experience contributing to competitive proposals and developing costed workplans.
Personal qualities
- Delivery-focused, organised and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced consulting environment.
- Collaborative and pragmatic, with the judgement to know when to resolve issues directly and when to escalate.
- Confident working with multidisciplinary teams, clients and delivery partners.
- Committed to quality, inclusion, learning and continuous improvement.
Additional points
- The role is expected to combine project management with substantive technical contribution; it is not a dedicated non-technical PM position.
- The postholder may work across several thematic areas and projects, depending on demand and subject-matter fit.
- The role will support both secured delivery and the development and mobilisation of new work.
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Please note that this application must be submitted directly by the applicant for consideration. Failure to do so may result in the application being excluded for consideration. Applicants needing an accommodation for disability or religious purposes in connection with the application process should contact Candidateaccommodation@icf.com for assistance.
About us:
Working at ICF means applying a passion for meaningful work with intellectual rigor to help solve the leading issues of our day. Smart, compassionate, innovative, committed, ICF employees tackle unprecedented challenges to benefit people, businesses, and governments around the globe. We believe in collaboration, mutual respect, open communication, and opportunity for growth.
We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are committed to creating a culture where we embrace our differences in ideas and identities. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals.
Learn more about what we do and our commitment to inclusion.
The benefits of joining ICF:
Our people at ICF are our most important asset, so we invest in them from the moment they arrive. When you join our team, you’ll have access to a vast array of benefits to help you live your life well.
We offer a hybrid working policy, which will provide you with the flexibility to collaborate in the office, as well as in the comfort of your own home, ensuring you are able to successfully deliver the requirements of your role.
To support you, our employee wellbeing hub is designed to provide highly personalised support across a comprehensive range of wellbeing issues, such as mind, body, finances, community, career programs and HR support.
We enjoy celebrating success, which is why we have a competitive recognition program called ‘You Matter’, which awards points as a ‘thank you’ for your work achievements. These can be spent on a large variety of high-quality items, as well as online or high-street vouchers, all with zero tax payable by the employee.
ICF also offers a range of competitive benefits, which include:
- Single Private Medical Insurance cover with no restrictions on existing conditions.
- Dental insurance and an online GP service.
- 25 days annual leave, plus UK bank holidays (annual leave increases with years of service).
- Pension scheme with 5% of salary employer contribution
- Life assurance paying 4x annual salary and Group Income Protection paying 66% of salary for up to 5 years if you are off work on long-term sick.
- Enhanced parental leave policies, enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental pay.
At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair and equitable interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is not permitted. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the interview process.
However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodations that involve the use of AI. If such an accommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance atcandidateaccommodation@icf.com. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.