As we continue to deliver on our current growth, OCU have a new opportunity for a Consents Manager to join the team in Borehamwood.

As the Consents Manager at OCU, you will be at the forefront of our DNO and EHV projects, responsible for managing the consents and approvals process.

With NEC experience as a prerequisite, you will play a key role in ensuring that our projects meet all regulatory requirements and maintain the highest standards of compliance.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for managing the consents and approvals process.
• Liaise with regulatory bodies, local authorities, and stakeholders to secure necessary consents.
• Provide guidance on NEC-related matters to internal project teams.
• Utilize extensive experience with NEC contracts to ensure project compliance and mitigate risks.
• Apply in-depth knowledge to navigate regulatory frameworks and requirements.
• Stay abreast of industry changes and emerging trends related to consents and approvals.
• Establish and maintain effective communication channels with regulatory bodies, local authorities, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Provide regular updates to project teams on consent-related matters.
• Identify and assess potential risks associated with consents and approvals.
• Develop and implement strategies to mitigate risks and ensure project success.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of all consents and approvals.

Skills and Experience

• Proven experience as a Consents Manager within the electrical and power field
• Mandatory experience with NEC contracts
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Make expectations clear and set standards.
• Organise, delegate and manage work within the team to include monitoring sickness absence / Standards of performance and sickness absence procedures.
• Assist with 132kV, 66kV and 33kV scheme preparation in terms of site and route selection/acquisition.
• Manage and negotiate complex consents, wayleaves, access routes, easements and agreements in respect of the location of and works to distribution assets (cables/lines/substations).
• Provide a wayleave service to Projects for maintenance (including tree cutting) and construction schemes.
• Responsible for managing and negotiating complex Injurious Affection Claims (including large development site claims).
• Settling damage, compensation and other payment claims.
• Approving, processing and completion of easement and property matters with legal advisors.
• Assist with or co-ordinate or resolve consent and wayleave legal matters (including inquiries/hearings).
• Undertake statutory and courtesy consultation on development proposals.
• Undertake and co-ordinate all major project planning applications and be the first point of contact with local authorities, DBEIS, MIPU and other consultees/objectors.
• Assist with the preparation of wayleave/consent policy, as required also preparation and control of the wayleave budget.
• Monitor the effect of development proposals on the environment.
• Provide advice and assistance as required to the Estates Specialists in Network Services.
• Co-ordinate and delegate workload within the team to ensure that projects are delivered on time.
• Undertake Telecoms wayleave work as required.
• Identify opportunities for improvement in performance and implement or recommend change.
• Provide assistance to team members when requested.
• Represent the Company on specialist groups, as required.
• Be involved with the selection of new team members.
• Identify the development needs of the team members.
• Exercise leadership

Company Information:

Established in 1994, OCU Group is one of the fastest growing utility engineering contractors in the UK, with a long successful track record in delivering customer-focused civil engineering solutions.

Working directly with many of the country’s leading blue-chip power, water, telecoms and rail clients, we are looking for the very best talent to join our growing team.

We pride ourselves on empowering our employees and offering opportunities for them to take control of their own personal development and career progression in a supportive environment.

We believe that being successful is a choice.

We choose to be successful.

We are OCU, ‘One Company United’.

We celebrate difference and appreciate diverse backgrounds. We encourage everyone who join us to be themselves at work and create inclusive teams in our workplace.