RPS Environmental Planning team have a great opportunity for a graduate to join the EIA team at our busy and vibrant head office near Oxford. We are sector leaders in EIA and are IEMA Quality Mark founder members. RPS is a global, multidisciplinary consultancy, specialising in all areas of the built and natural environment, shaping the future of our environmental, social and economic landscapes.
Your role
You will have the opportunity to be part of a highly regarded environmental team including leading industry experts as well as being able to partner with the wider RPS Health Impact Assessment, sustainability, climate change, planning, landscape, ecology, heritage and transport teams. This role will give you experience of a variety of projects from small to large long-term flagship projects, across primarily infrastructure (airports, highways, energy and waste), leisure and residential industry sectors.
Your week could include:
-New projects arise each day so there is rarely a typical week within our team but your week is likely to include:
-Working with our experienced EIA team to co-ordinate multi-disciplinary teams for large projects. Many of these teams are based within this office, facilitating close working with transport, landscape, ecology, heritage and planning teams.
-Working with our graphics teams to developing our capacity to provide digital EIA.
-Project research to address client queries (internal and external).
-Considering the need for EIA for new enquiries (screening) and drafting screening reports.
-Identifying the likely scope of EIA projects with the team, leading to the drafting of scoping reports.
-Drafting introductory chapters for Environmental Statements and appraisals, including development of the project description, which will form the basis for the EIA topic assessments.
-Drafting of Non-technical Summaries, working with internal and external authors.
-Review of documents provided by others in preparation for client or legal review.
-Provision of advice to other teams within RPS in relation to EIA matters.
-Addressing client queries.
-Assisting with preparation of bid/tender documents as required.
Opportunities also exist to work alongside our health, climate change and sustainability teams, working on client audits, BREEAM, HIA and climate change chapters. As you gain experience or for more experienced candidates, the role would include a greater degree of direct client advice and meetings.
Your skills and experience
We’d like you to have a good first degree in relevant environmental subject (e.g. biology, geography etc) and ideally an MSc in relevant topic eg Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Management or similar. You’ll have a basic understanding of the key principles of EIA and an interest in working within EIA team and with clients to develop solutions.
Good time and project management skills are a must as are strong influencing and communication skills to enable you to build, maintain and consolidate working relationships with colleagues, clients and external bodies.
There may some travel involved so you will need to have a full UK driving licence.
What we offer you
We will provide you with a flexible, friendly and creative environment to develop your skills and challenge yourself. Via our robust career development framework, we are proud to be able to support our people to innovate, collaborate and build meaningful careers. Our network of people and knowledge will expand your horizons and give you access to a variety of interesting projects across the UK.
Our employees are rewarded with competitive salaries, opportunities to invest and many other benefits including: 25 days holiday + bank holidays, Option to purchase up to 5 extra days per year, Company pension scheme, Group Disability Scheme, Share Incentive Scheme, Life Assurance, Cycle to Work Scheme, Health Screening, Employee Assistance Programme (including numerous wellbeing initiatives and mental health support), Dental Cover, Gadget Insurance Professional Memberships and access to BenefitHub offering discounts, cash back offers and rewards
About RPS
RPS is a leading global professional services firm of 5,000 people. We define, design and manage projects that create shared value in a complex, urbanising and resource-scarce world. Connecting with our global expertise we make it easy for our clients to create winning solutions for their communities and their clients. By being confidently pragmatic we solve problems that matter. We make complex easy.
Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Mindful that a truly inclusive organization must make appropriate use of talent on a global basis and without unnecessary barriers, we are committed to embedding diversity and inclusion principles in all People processes in order to be as diverse as the communities and clients we work with, thereby securing, developing, and retaining the best available talent for the company’s future.
Our approach to Diversity and inclusion
Our people live our purpose, deliver our promise, and demonstrate our behaviours every day. Our behaviours define who we are. Developed by our people, they underpin everything that we do. They create the memorable experiences we are known for and make RPS a great place to do great work.
‘Stronger Together’ is one of our five core behaviours and it is inherent in creating an inclusive workplace:
‘We are respectful, acknowledge diversity, and recognise the potential and contribution of everyone. We bring out the best in one another, always assuming best intent. People who learn and grow thrive in our business, sharing in our success.’