Consultant Circular Economy / Senior Consultant Circular Economy

Location/s: Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, London, Bristol, Cambridge; UK

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices.

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you're surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee‑owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit

Mott MacDonald's Advisory and Programme Delivery(APD) unit delivers both project, programme & commercial management (PPCM) services and advisory solutions across the built environment, defence, energy, water, environmental, transportation, health and care sectors.

We deliver tailored solutions that directly address our clients' key challenges, combining our world‑leading project expertise with unrivalled programme delivery capabilities and advisory services.

APD delivers services to projects ranging in scale and complexity up to £20bn, through the technical disciplines of programme management, project management, project controls, scheduling, cost management, estimating, infrastructure finance, management consulting, digital consulting and education, health and care management.

Strategic advisory

Client organisations face increasingly complex and interconnected challenges throughout their business, and drivers for change are both wide ranging and influential on each another. This includes the need to maximise investment, pursuing net zero and making the energy transition. Climate resilience, digital transformation, and environmental and social outcomes also command new ways of thinking and working.

Our range of strategic advisory capabilities help executive teams articulate the future state of their enterprise, programme or problem that aligns their people, processes, information, and technology.

Our integrated management consultancy services leverage our rich technical excellence of complex problem solving, proven through the practical delivery of projects and programmes through our asset management, business change, digital and data, and value chain solutions.

Overview of the role

This role will support the growth of Mott MacDonald's circular economy consultancy offer, helping clients translate circular economy principles into practical strategies, design decisions and delivery approaches. The successful candidate will join a developing cross‑unit team within Mott MacDonald's advisory business (within the Sustainability function in Strategic Advisory/Climate, Sustainability & Social team), with the opportunity to contribute to service development, project delivery and long‑term market positioning.

The role builds on the work of a cross‑unit circular economy team that has been active for the past three years. The team combines strategic and operational responsibilities, supporting project work while developing Mott MacDonald's wider consultancy offer. You will help progress live opportunities, strengthen internal collaboration and work with colleagues to identify relevant markets, clients and project applications for circular economy thinking.

The successful candidate will work with colleagues across the business who are already delivering circular economy work, contributing to a growing workstream as the offer develops.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Support the Technical Director and Senior Principal in developing Mott MacDonald's circular economy offer, working collaboratively with circular economy professionals across the business
• Contribute to the development of a business strategy for circular economy consultancy in the EUNA region, working with others in the team
• Collaborate with existing technical teams across the business with expertise in carbon, waste, social value, energy and water
• Provide circular economy advice to the wider Mott MacDonald community, particularly in relation to design, procurement, asset management and operational decision‑making
• Progress existing circular economy initiatives and help strengthen relationships that Mott MacDonald already has with relevant clients, partners and industry networks
• Work with other circular economy team members to provide technical input into Mott MacDonald's marketing team, supporting consistent, high‑quality materials and active participation in campaigns
• Assist the Technical Director and Senior Principal with positioning Mott MacDonald in the market and present a broad view of the company's capabilities
• Work with operational and business leaders to embed circular economy thinking into bids, proposals and project delivery across the business
• Assist the Technical Director and Senior Principal to proactively pursue opportunities, maintaining good relations with relevant client organisations and partners, and responding to their needs
• Support sharing of knowledge and experience, both within the team as well as the wider Group

The role will report to the Senior Principal in the Climate, Sustainability & Social team in Mott MacDonald's advisory unit and will be part of a growing community of decarbonisation, climate and sustainability experts. You will initially support strategic workstreams and, over time, contribute increasingly to project‑level delivery. You will need strong interpersonal skills to engage with colleagues and clients, alongside the ability to bring practical, creative thinking to circular economy and climate‑related challenges.

Candidate specification

Essential:

• A degree or equivalent experience in environmental science, engineering, materials science, chemistry, sustainability, architecture or a related field
• Passion for circular economy, sustainability and technology
• A good understanding of circular economy principles, including resource efficiency, reuse, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing, recycling and whole‑life value
• Familiarity with circular economy metrics, assessment approaches and benchmarking systems, including how these can be applied to projects, assets or organisations
• An understanding of the design process and lifecycle of projects in the construction industry
• Awareness of UK and European circular economy policy drivers, legislation and best practice
• Experience contributing to the design, implementation or management of projects in circular economy, sustainability, resource efficiency, materials, waste or related fields
• A cross‑sectoral understanding of circular economy principles and ability to apply this thinking creatively across different projects
• Good understanding of material flows and supply chains in the construction sector
• Experience contributing to bids, proposals or project delivery, with an awareness of commercial drivers in consultancy
• Commercial awareness and an interest in working within a dynamic consultancy environment
• Fluency in written and spoken English - additional language capabilities will be appreciated
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and demonstrated strong time‑management skills
• Ability to self‑direct, multitask, and prioritise constantly evolving workload
• Strong organisational, collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to motivate others and contribute positively to multidisciplinary teams

Desirable:

• Clear, concise writing style and experience writing for different audiences
• Experience working in an international, multicultural or diverse environment, with a collaborative approach and the ability to work across sectoral and regional boundaries
• Chartered, working towards chartership, or interested in professional development with a relevant professional body

UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well‑being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

AI Usage

At Mott MacDonald, we see the value AI can bring, but we take a people‑first approach to hiring. While AI tools can help candidates prepare and build confidence, every application and hiring decision is reviewed by our recruitment and hiring teams. We encourage the responsible use of AI while ensuring we get to know the real person behind the application.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long‑term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long‑term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• 10 days additional paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years' service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high‑street retailers.

Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• We offer policies and dedicated support to help military families balance service life with career and wellbeing.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self‑development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and Gold Award holders in the MOD Employer Recognition Scheme, supported by our dedicated internal Armed Forces Network.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

#J-18808-Ljbffr