Biodiversity & Conservation Manager

Thames Water; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

26 days annual leave (30 with service)

Pension scheme (AON)

Annual medical assessments

Health & lifestyle benefits

Performance-related pay

Job summary

Thames Water is seeking a Biodiversity & Conservation Manager to lead a specialist team of ecologists and biodiversity professionals, shaping environmental strategy across our region. You will oversee biodiversity commitments, manage budgets and external consultants, and collaborate with regulators to embed nature recovery and environmental stewardship in decision making.

The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on delivery across land, habitats and conservation sites, reporting on

Qualifications

• Experience in biodiversity, ecology, conservation or environmental management.
• Experience leading specialist technical teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Experience managing environmental compliance and regulatory obligations.
• Knowledge of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements.
• Experience delivering biodiversity programmes, budgets and managing consultants.
• Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Conservation, Environmental Management or related discipline.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a team of biodiversity, ecology and conservation specialists.
• Provide strategic oversight of biodiversity, ecological and heritage compliance activities across Thames Water.
• Shape strategies, standards and policies to embed nature recovery and environmental stewardship across the business.
• Deliver a large programme of biodiversity commitments including WINEP projects and Biodiversity Performance Commitment.
• Oversee programmes to manage INNS and strengthen resilience across assets.
• Build relationships with regulators including Natural England and Environment Agency.
• Manage biodiversity-related risks and coordinate with operational, asset management and capital delivery teams.
• Oversee biodiversity reporting, assurance activities and environmental performance measures.
• Support management and enhancement of Thames Water's landholdings, habitats and conservation sites.
• Manage specialist consultants, contractors and programme budgets.
• Influence senior stakeholders and manage challenging conversations.
• Drive continuous improvement and environmental stewardship across the organisation.

Skills

Biodiversity management

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

BNG knowledge

Budget & contract management

Communication skills

Full UK driving licence

Education

Ecology/Environmental Science/Conservation/Environmental Management degree

Job description

Make a lasting impact on the future of nature and conservation.

At Thames Water, we're committed to protecting and enhancing the environment across thousands of hectares of land, habitats and conservation sites. We're looking for a passionate and collaborative Biodiversity & Conservation Manager to lead our specialist team of ecologists and biodiversity professionals, helping shape environmental strategy, drive biodiversity improvements and deliver positive outcomes for nature across our region.

This is a unique opportunity to influence how one of the UK's largest landowners manages and protects its natural assets. You'll help guide the management of over 250 Sites of Biodiversity Interest, 12 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and 22 nature reserves, making a tangible difference for wildlife and habitats across the Thames Water region. You'll lead a team of technical specialists, work closely with regulators including the Environment Agency and Natural England, and partner with colleagues across the business to ensure environmental risks are managed, and opportunities for nature recovery are maximised. Whether your experience comes from water, infrastructure, local government, consultancy or the wider environmental sector, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll be doing as a Biodiversity & Conservation Manager

• Leading, coaching and developing a team of biodiversity, ecology and conservation specialists.
• Providing strategic oversight of biodiversity, ecological and heritage compliance activities across Thames Water.
• Shaping strategies, standards and policies to embed nature recovery and environmental stewardship across the business.
• Accountable for delivering a large programme of biodiversity commitments including several Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) projects and the industry’s Biodiversity Performance Commitment
• Overseeing programmes to manage invasive non-native species (INNS) and strengthen the resilience across our assets.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with regulators including Natural England, the Environment Agency and other key stakeholders.
• Managing biodiversity-related risks and collaborating with operational, asset management and capital delivery teams to embed biodiversity considerations into business decisions.
• Overseeing biodiversity reporting, assurance activities and environmental performance measures.
• Supporting the management and enhancement of Thames Water's extensive landholdings, habitats and conservation sites.
• Managing specialist consultants, contractors and programme budgets.
• Influencing senior internal and external stakeholders and confidently managing complex or challenging conversations.
• Driving a culture of continuous improvement and environmental stewardship across the organisation.

This is a hybrid role with an expectation to:

• Attend our Clearwater Court, Reading office and operational sites 2-3 days per week.

We're looking for you to have:

• Experience in biodiversity, ecology, conservation or environmental management.
• Experience leading, motivating and developing specialist technical teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to engage effectively at all levels.
• Experience managing environmental compliance, risk and regulatory obligations within a regulated environment.
• Knowledge of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements and implementation.
• Proven experience managing programmes, budgets, consultants and external suppliers.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to build trust, influence decisions and navigate challenging conversations.
• A degree, or equivalent experience, in Ecology, Environmental Science, Conservation, Environmental Management or a related discipline.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Additional skills, experience and knowledge that would be great to bring:

• Experience within the water, utilities, infrastructure or environmental sectors.
• Experience working with Natural England, the Environment Agency, Historic England or similar regulatory bodies.
• Experience developing environmental strategies, policies and standards.
• Understanding of habitat management, protected species and ecological assessment principles.
• Chartered Ecologist (CEcol), Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Membership of a relevant professional body such as CIEEM or IEMA.
• Experience delivering biodiversity, conservation or land management programmes across large and complex organisations.

What's in it for you?

• Competitive salary of £65,000 - £75,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• Car Allowance of £5.8k
• 26 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with length of service, plus bank holidays.
• Generous pension scheme through AON.
• Annual personal medical assessments available to all employees.
• Access to a wide range of health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including physiotherapy, counselling, health MOTs, Cycle to Work schemes, shopping discounts and life assurance.
• Performance-related pay plan linked to company performance measures and targets.

Find out more about our benefits and perks (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)