Role Overview

Are you an experienced consents professional with a background in infrastructure delivery? Do you want to play a key role in enabling vital HV power projects across the UK? We’re looking for a Consent Manager to join our team and support the delivery of major DNO substation schemes from 11kV to 132kV.

As Consent Manager, you will be responsible for identifying, managing, and delivering the full suite of statutory, planning and environmental consents required for large-scale electrical infrastructure projects. You will collaborate with internal teams, DNO representatives, landowners, and planning authorities to ensure all project consents are achieved on time and in line with regulatory obligations.

Working closely with OCU’s design and project teams, as well as external consultants and advisors, you’ll also contribute to the development of consenting strategies both at project and portfolio levels.

The Consent Manager’s responsibilities include:

• Strategy Development - Develop and maintain consenting strategies for each project and the overall framework, using DNO templates and aligned with the DNO’s Consenting Policy.
• Scope Definition - Liaise with the DNO Consent Manager at the tender stage to define initial consent requirements.
• Supplier Management - Engage and oversee planning, legal, and consent sub-consultants during feasibility and design stages.
• Consents Tracking - Maintain a live tracker of all consents and provide regular updates to the OCU and DNO teams.
• Documentation - Produce Permitted Development Assessments and ensure that all consents, easements, and statutory approvals are documented and submitted correctly.
• Stakeholder Engagement - Liaise with landowners, local authorities, statutory bodies, and environmental advisors to secure required consents.
• Internal Coordination - Work closely with the OCU Design Team to ensure design solutions align with consenting requirements.
• Legal Interface - Manage preparation and handover of documents for completion by the DNO’s legal team.
• Portfolio-Level Oversight - Report on consenting progress and strategy across the framework portfolio, providing insight and early warning of risks or issues.
• Risk Management - Identify and manage risks associated with delayed consents, stakeholder objections, or complex legal land matters.

Experience

• Experience in land rights, planning, or environmental consents within the infrastructure or utilities sector.
• Strong understanding of relevant planning legislation, statutory processes, and regulatory frameworks (especially in energy or DNO projects).
• Proven ability to manage external advisors and consultants.
• Familiarity with obtaining consents such as wayleaves, easements, land purchases, environmental permits and CPOs.
• Experience working with or for DNOs, ICPs, or similar regulated environments is desirable.

Skills

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Confident in managing consultants and third-party interfaces.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to interpret and produce legal and technical documentation.
• Proactive and solution-oriented, with experience resolving complex land and planning challenges.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and document tracking systems.

Company Information:

OCU leads the way in end-to-end infrastructure engineering in the utilities, digital, and energy markets, specialising in safely and efficiently delivering complex client requirements. Our breadth of capabilities and depth of operational capacity, paired with our cutting-edge technology, ensure that we are not just part of the market; we are leading it.

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