Senior / Principal Consultant: UK Blue Economy

Welcome to HMC 

HMC works at the intersection of marine science, policy, regulation and delivery. Over the past decade we have delivered more than 140 projects for over 50 clients, which in the UK include Defra, Natural England, the MMO, JNCC, Scottish Government, the OEP, The Crown Estate and NERC. We help our clients make good decisions, with clearer evidence, stronger governance and practical routes to delivery. 

Our UK Blue Economy portfolio is our largest area of work including offshore wind, nature recovery, marine monitoring and evidence systems, marine conservation, marine licensing, marine net gain and marine spatial planning. 

The role 

We are looking for experienced consultants to join the UK Blue Economy team at Senior or Principal Consultant grade, depending on experience. We are particularly interested in applicants with strong expertise in at least two of the below areas:  

Offshore wind and strategic planning  

We support clients in understanding the environmental, policy and planning implications of renewable energy expansion alongside marine nature recovery objectives. Recent work includes supporting The Crown Estate on plan-level Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA), making strategic decisions on their marine nature portfolio and advising Defra on compensatory measures for offshore wind.  

Marine monitoring and evaluation 

We support clients in evaluating whether marine programmes, interventions and objectives are effective and achievable. In Defra’s Blue Monitoring Evolution work, we mapped marine and fisheries monitoring programmes and set out options for a more coordinated, question-driven system. We are working with partners to develop and evaluation framework for the UK Marine Strategy, and have evaluated MPA effectiveness and contaminant controls for the Office of Environmental Protection. 

Marine conservation and nature recovery 

We are supporting clients in developing marine net gain, nature recovery and nature-positive delivery models, backed by robust evidence and practical implementation advice. This includes providing advice on funding mechanisms, finance systems and market-facing approaches to turn policy ambition into investable and deliverable action.  

Marine spatial planning 

We support clients in developing MSP that integrates ecosystem, biodiversity and stakeholder considerations into marine planning processes. This includes working with the MMO on monitoring and evaluating marine plans and understanding how the Welsh marine planning process could better support nature recovery. Outside of the UK, we are leading the development of Guernsey’s Marine Spatial Plan and have advised on integrating biodiversity objectives into Ireland’s marine planning system. 

What you will do 

At Senior Consultant grade 

• Deliver technical and policy analysis, including evidence reviews, framework design, evaluation, stakeholder interviews and synthesis, and turn it into clear, decision-ready outputs for government, regulatory and industry clients. 
• Manage projects, or substantial parts of larger ones, to time, budget and quality. 
• Design and facilitate workshops and expert groups, often with regulators, SNCBs, developers and NGOs in the same room. 
• Contribute to bids and build relationships with clients and partners. 

At Principal Consultant grade, you will also 

• Lead projects and client relationships end to end, and act as the technical and strategic lead on complex, multi-partner commissions. 
• Shape and lead bids, including scoping, teaming with our consortium partners, and pricing. 
• Provide quality assurance and mentor more junior colleagues. 
• Represent HMC externally and contribute to thought leadership, helping set the direction of the UK Blue Economy portfolio. 

What we are looking for 

• Experience in UK marine policy, regulation, evidence or management. Typically this means at least five years for Senior and eight for Principal, though we recognise that careers take different routes. 
• An understanding of how UK marine decisions are made: marine licensing and consenting, HRA and MPA assessment, marine planning, the UK Marine Strategy, and the roles of Defra, the MMO, SNCBs and The Crown Estate. 
• Specialist depth in at least one of the areas above. 
• The ability to turn complex technical evidence into clear judgements and practical recommendations, and to state plainly where evidence is weak or uncertain. 
• Excellent writing, and confidence in facilitating discussions between parties with different interests. 
• Project management experience, and for Principal, a track record of winning and leading work. 

Experience in consultancy, a regulator or government body, an SNCB, the offshore energy sector, an NGO or a research organisation would all be relevant. If you meet most of these requirements but not all, we would still like to hear from you. 

Package 

• Salary: Senior Consultant £35,000–£44,999; Principal Consultant £45000–£54,499 (pro rata if part-time), increased in line with HMC’s performance-related salary structure 
• A discretionary annual bonus of up to 10% of salary, paid when HMC meets agreed profitability targets 
• Fully remote: all roles are 100% home-based, with occasional opportunities to meet in person 
• Flexible working arrangements, which we are happy to discuss 
• 30 days’ paid holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata if part-time) and 2 volunteer days 
• A company pension scheme in line with statutory requirements 
• Equipment for home working, including a MacBook Air, and a workstation if required 

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team, and we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those who are under-represented in the marine and environmental sectors. 

How to apply 

Please email a CV and a cover letter to recruitment@howellmarine.co.uk. In your cover letter, let us know which grade you are applying for and which areas of our work you would most want to contribute to. The closing date is 30th October 2026