Environmental Planner Graduate Warrington 2024

More than ever before we need inspiring graduates to join us and make the North West greener, healthier and stronger. We all know the challenges of climate change and by joining our graduate scheme you'll play a role in securing efficient, reliable water resources for customers across the North West.

You may know us for keeping the taps flowing and toilets flushing for customers in the North West, but we're also a responsible business who cares about delivering great customer service, protecting and enhancing the environment, caring for its communities, and making sure we're investing in the region to support future growth, address climate change and work in partnership to improve river health.

Whichever scheme is right for you, you'll be at the heart of bringing innovation and positive change to the water industry.

Ready to live your future?

You'll be rewarded for your commitment with a starting salary of £30,000, 26 days of annual leave every year, which will increase to a maximum of 30 days after four years' service, plus bank holidays. Our fantastic benefits include private healthcare, discounted gym, flexible holidays, and award winning pension scheme. We're proud to be one of the UK's top inclusive employers.

We are looking for graduates that have the capability to engage with people at all levels of the business and develop into outstanding leaders of the future. We're looking for inspiring individuals to help deliver our ambitious plans, drive performance and improve customer service in a safe working environment. Sound like your cup of tea? Start living your future today.

As a Graduate Environmental Planner you will be providing support and collaborating with teams across the business to ensure we meet our planning and environmental responsibilities. Ensuring that environmental and sustainability objectives, policies and standards are accounted for in project designs and through to construction. You will develop a broad range of skills through working closely with both internal and external stakeholders and approval bodies across the region. You will develop a detailed technical knowledge of the planning approval process and other necessary environmental consents to support United Utilities capital investments by leading on the environmental planning input into projects through management of external service providers.

Job accountabilities

• Over the three year programme you will have an opportunity to gain experience in a variety of environmental areas across the business to support your progression to chartership
• As a Graduate Environmental Planner, you will be given responsibility at an early stage across a wide variety of projects. We'll expect you to be highly motivated and develop your understanding of how both the planning system and the business works, on the job. However, we won't expect you to know everything from day one, and we'll support you every step of the way as you learn the ropes
• You'll be part of our Planning, Landscape and Ecology team as an environmental coordinator, challenging and influencing our teams to produce designs acceptable to consenting bodies, stakeholders, and customers, in line with our company targets and policies
• You'll work alongside business experts to help deliver projects within budget and on programme and ensure that all planning and consenting risks to sites and projects are identified and dealt with in an appropriate manner
• You'll develop strong working relationships with project teams, including contractors and suppliers and work with colleagues in other organisations such as planning authorities, the Environment Agency and Natural England. There will also be opportunities to represent the company at community consultation events
• You'll be part of a wider network of graduates across the business with the opportunity to work together to develop a broader understanding of United Utilities and the water sector
• You will begin the journey towards professional chartership with an appropriate body, such as the Royal Town Planning Institute, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management or the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.

Knowledge and skills

We require our Environmental Planner graduate to have a minimum 2:1 in Geography, Planning (e.g. Urban Planning, Town and Regional Planning) or a relevant technical degree (see below).

For example a relevant technical degree could be; Landscape architecture, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Management, Earth Sciences, Climate Sciences, Ecology or Conservation.

You'll need to be

• Knowledgeable about the environment and have an understanding of the UK planning system and an eagerness to learn more
• An excellent team player
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• A passion for improving the environment
• An excellent communicator (both verbally and in writing to a range of audiences)
• Able to work independently and proactively
• Capable of building relationships within a multi-disciplinary team
• Highly organised and able to prioritise and manage your own workload effectively
• Able to drive and hold a full UK driving licence
• IT literate in Microsoft Office and ideally some GIS experience
• Able to identify risks and help work to solve problems

Additional information

The post will be largely based at Lingley Mere in Warrington however travel to other office and site locations will be required. Occasional out of hours working may be required to assist at community consultation events, meetings with stakeholders, attend planning committees etc.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an assessment centre which are taking place between 6th-15th December 2023.

We need fantastic people to enable us to deliver a great service to the public. We are committed to reaching and recruiting from every community and then supporting employees to achieve their full potential ensuring they feel valued and included, regardless of their gender, age, race, disability, sexual orientation or social background.

If you are offered a job with us, a number of pre-employment checks need to be carried out before your appointment can be confirmed. Any offer of employment with United Utilities will be subject to a satisfactory checking report from the Disclosure Scotland / the Disclosure and Barring Service.