Principal Arboricultural Consultant Manchester / Cambridge / Norwich / Belfast | Hybrid Working
East Anglia, North West, Flexible Home Working • Upto £65K + significant benefits • Ref: JSM - 1256
Posted 28th September 2026
My client, a leading multidisciplinary engineering and environmental consultancy, is looking to appoint an experienced Principal Arboricultural Consultant to play a key role within its established national arboriculture team.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced arboricultural professional looking to move beyond purely technical delivery and take on greater responsibility for major projects, clients, people and the continued development of a national service.
You'll work on some of the UK's most significant infrastructure and development projects, providing strategic arboricultural advice while collaborating with environmental, planning, engineering and design specialists.
The Role
As Principal Arboricultural Consultant, you'll combine technical leadership, project management, client development and team mentoring.
Your responsibilities will include:
Leading complex arboricultural commissions
Preparing and technically reviewing Arboricultural Impact Assessments, Method Statements and Tree Protection Plans
Providing arboricultural input to EIA and major infrastructure projects
Working on NSIPs and other complex development schemes
Advising multidisciplinary project and design teams
Managing project programmes, budgets, scopes and delivery risks
Providing specialist advice relating to veteran and ancient trees, woodland constraints, statutory protection and mitigation
Developing and maintaining strong client relationships
Supporting tenders, proposals, scopes of work and work-winning activity
Mentoring and developing Consultants and Senior Consultants
Supporting recruitment and succession planning
Helping drive technical quality and consistency across the wider arboriculture team
You'll have the autonomy to lead your own projects and client relationships while benefiting from the resources and expertise of a major multidisciplinary consultancy.
About You
You'll already have substantial experience within arboricultural consultancy and be comfortable taking responsibility for technically complex projects.
Ideally, you'll bring:
Extensive arboricultural consultancy and planning experience
Strong knowledge of BS5837 assessments and reporting
Experience advising multidisciplinary design and project teams
Strong project management skills, including budgets, programmes and commercial delivery
Experience developing and maintaining client relationships
The ability to mentor and develop other arboricultural professionals
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
A commercially aware and solutions-focused approach
Experience of NSIPs, DCOs, EIA or major infrastructure projects would be particularly valuable.
Chartered Arboriculturist or Chartered Forester status would be advantageous, although applications are also welcomed from individuals working towards Chartership.
Experience of work winning, planning appeals, public inquiries, expert witness work, forestry planning considerations or digital arboricultural survey techniques would also be useful.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This is a genuine Principal-level position offering considerably more than technical project delivery.
You'll have the opportunity to:
Lead nationally significant and high-profile projects
Develop strategic relationships with major clients
Influence technical standards and best practice
Mentor and develop the next generation of arboricultural professionals
Contribute to work winning and the continued growth of the service
Work alongside specialists across a wide range of environmental and engineering disciplines
Develop towards more senior technical and leadership positions
The business offers a strong package including hybrid working, flexible hours, pension, professional membership fees, dedicated training and development support and a comprehensive range of employee benefits.
The role can potentially be based from Manchester, Cambridgeshire, Norwich or Belfast, with hybrid working available.
For a confidential conversation about the position, please get in touch.
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