Graduate Consents Consultant

Assystem Graduate Consents Consultant role develops graduates in securing and managing planning permissions, environmental approvals and regulatory consents for major energy and infrastructure projects.

Meeting the challenges of the energy transition and strengthening our sovereignty are among the key priorities of the 21st century. At the heart of these challenges, Assystem supports its clients in delivering their most strategic projects. To achieve this, our 8,000 Switchers leverage their expertise in engineering, project management, and digital solutions.

Operating in 13 countries (Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and North America), we contribute to the development of new nuclear power generation capacities, the operational maintenance of existing facilities, and the design and delivery of critical infrastructure, particularly in the defence sector.

Your Future Team

Are you interested in how major projects secure the permissions and approvals they need to move from an idea into delivery?

Join our two year Graduate Programme and begin your career with the Consents team within our Project Management & Consulting business. You’ll work alongside experienced consultants supporting major energy and infrastructure projects across rail, highways, utilities, water and aviation.

Our team helps projects understand what permissions are required, develop practical consenting strategies and coordinate applications, approvals and commitments throughout the project lifecycle. This can include Development Consent Orders, planning applications, Transport and Works Act Orders, environmental permits, marine licences and other project specific approvals. Assystem’s wider consents service operates from pre-application strategy and stakeholder engagement through determination, delivery and post consent compliance. 

You’ll be supported as you develop your understanding of the UK planning and consenting system, build your confidence and learn how good consent management helps projects manage risk, remain compliant and stay on programme.

Your Responsibilities

From day one, you’ll contribute to live energy and infrastructure projects, helping multidisciplinary teams identify, secure and manage the permissions needed for successful delivery.

You’ll work with project information, technical evidence and consent requirements while learning how legislation, stakeholder engagement and project delivery come together.

Your main responsibilities include:

• Supporting the identification, coordination and delivery of project consents and approvals.

• Assisting with site appraisals, consent applications, reports and supporting documentation.

• Helping maintain consent, commitment and requirement registers, ensuring information remains accurate and up to date.

• Monitoring applications, approvals and actions, and providing clear progress updates to project teams.

• Supporting post-consent activities, including the discharge of requirements, conditions and certification processes.

• Working with planners, environmental specialists, engineers, project managers and other technical disciplines.

• Supporting engagement with clients, local authorities, regulators, statutory bodies and delivery partners. 

• Helping identify consenting risks, potential delays or areas of non-compliance and escalating them appropriately.

Your Strengths and Requirements for Success

We’re looking for graduates who:

• Have recently completed, or expect to complete, a degree in Town Planning, Environmental Planning, Environmental Management, Infrastructure Planning, Geography, Law, Engineering, Archaeology, Construction Management or a closely related discipline before joining the Graduate Programme.

• Have a genuine interest in how major energy and infrastructure projects are planned, approved and delivered.

• Are interested in developing an understanding of planning, consenting, environmental and infrastructure legislation.

• Enjoy researching information, understanding requirements and solving practical problems.

• Can produce clear, accurate and professionally presented written work.

• Have strong organisational skills and can track different activities, actions and deadlines.

• Communicate confidently and enjoy working with colleagues, clients and stakeholders.

• Are proactive, detail-focused and willing to ask questions and learn from experienced consultants.

• Enjoy working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.

An interest in working towards membership of a relevant professional body, such as RTPI, IEMA, RICS or CIWEM, would also be beneficial. 

Eligibility Requirements:

To join our Graduate Scheme, you must be a UK sole national and a UK resident, as this is required for the type of work we do. You’ll also need to be able to obtain a minimum of Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, with some roles requiring higher levels of clearance.

As part of the programme, you should also be willing to relocate or travel within the UK, and we’ll provide relocation support where needed.