Assistant Conservation Adviser

YTL UK; Bath; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 20%

Career progression

Holiday allowance 25–28

Sell/buy holiday

Healthcare package

Life assurance

Electric car salary sacrifice

Cashback discounts

Volunteer day

Enhanced family leave

Wellbeing platform access

Mental health support

Referral bonus

Job summary

YTL UK is seeking an Assistant Conservation Adviser to support conservation land management and biodiversity commitments across the Wessex Water region. The role involves liaising with internal teams and external groups, coordinating habitat works and monitoring outcomes.

Based in Bath with travel, the role offers hybrid working and development opportunities within a large, diverse group focused on sustainability and environment.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering conservation projects and biodiversity land management.
• Experience in ecological surveying and habitat identification.
• Knowledge of UK ecology, habitat management, policies.
• Strong written and verbal communication with stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently in the field and as part of a team.
• Proficient IT skills including MS Office and GIS tools.
• Full UK driving licence; travel around the region.

Responsibilities

• Deliver conservation land management activities and provide business advisory.
• Schedule habitat management works and oversee contractors/consultants.
• Assist data collation, GIS mapping and document management.
• Undertake surveys and prescribe management to conserve habitats.
• Support monitoring and reporting on biodiversity commitments.

Skills

Nature conservation

Ecological surveying

Stakeholder engagement

GIS mapping

Problem solving

MS Office / MS 365

Driving licence

Education

Biological Sciences degree

Tools

GIS software

Job description

We have an exciting new vacancy for an Assistant Conservation Adviser to join our Conservation team. If you are looking for a role focused on our local environment and you love engaging with equally passionate people, then we want to hear from you!

We own and lease nearly 3,000 hectares of land. Our sites and landholdings range from small pumping stations to large treatment works, reservoirs and farmland. Wessex Water and our tenants occupy more than 290 hectares of SSSI and over 900 hectares designated as either a Local Wildlife Site or a Local Geological Site. Our Conservation team ensures that this land is well-managed for nature.

You will be encouraged to have a voice, think freely, and be empowered to work in a high-performing team. You will have a genuine opportunity to make an impact, and we will actively invest in your professional development.

Although based in Bath, this role will require you to travel regularly throughout the Wessex Water region. We offer hybrid working, allowing you to work from home some of the time, if preferred, as well as in our office.

This is a 14-month fixed-term contract.

What you'll do

As an Assistant Conservation Adviser, you will be involved in all aspects of delivering conservation land management, as well as providing advice to the wider business to support the delivery of our biodiversity land management commitments. You will liaise with teams across Wessex Water and with external stakeholders, including volunteers and community groups.

Day to day, you will support the Conservation team by scheduling habitat management works and procuring and overseeing services from contractors and ecological consultants. The role will also support the Conservation team with data collation, GIS mapping and document management.

To conserve and enhance habitats and species of biodiversity importance, or areas of geological or heritage importance, you will assist with undertaking surveys, prescribing management, and implementing monitoring.

What you'll need

To be successful in this role, you will be highly motivated by nature conservation and will have at least two years of relevant experience in the conservation, ecology or environmental sector. A Biological Sciences, Environmental Management degree or similar is desired; however, this is not essential, depending on experience.

You will work well within and across teams, and you can work alone, including in the field. You will be positive, pragmatic and forward-thinking, with a flexible approach to problem-solving and achieving solutions.

Some required skills, knowledge and experience include:

• a demonstrable experience in supporting the delivery of nature conservation, ecology or environmental projects
• an understanding of and experience in ecological surveying, with botanical/habitat identification skills sufficient to identify common habitats
• knowledge of UK ecology, habitat management, conservation issues and policy
• having effective communication skills (written and verbal) and being able to build positive, lasting relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
• using problem-solving skills and the ability to work from your own initiative to achieve agreed goals within a dynamic environment
• good IT skills, including proficiency with MS Office and MS 365
• experience of using GIS software
• a full UK driving licence; you will travel around the Wessex Water region, which in some cases can be very rural.

What you'll receive

• A combined pension contribution of up to 20%.
• Career progression and professional development opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service.
• The opportunity to sell up to five days of holiday every year.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days of holiday each year (subject to conditions).
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• The opportunity to lease a new electric car through salary sacrifice (subject to conditions).
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• Access toan interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from trainedmental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone who is successfully recruited by us.

Who we are

YTL UK is part of the international YTL Group based in Kuala Lumpur. The UK companies include:

• Wessex Water – one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9 million people across the South West
• YTL Developments – a major UK developer currently redeveloping a 450-acre former airfield into an award-winning, exciting mix of houses, apartments, schools, commercial space, restaurants and hotels, to make a truly sustainable new community
• YTL Construction UK – a top 20 UK contractor providing fully integrated services to infrastructure, residential, commercial, industry, energy and environmental sectors
• YTL Live – the development and operation of an entertainment complex that includes a 20,000 capacity arena, conferencing and exhibition space
• plus a number of other retail,environmental and specialist businesses.

Our people tell us that YTL UK is a great place to work, which is why so many of them stay with us! You will have a unique opportunity to develop and progress your career within such a diverse group.

We are passionate about diversity and inclusion – with that in mind, all applicants are welcome. We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer.

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please inform a member of our Recruitment team.