Biodiversity Lead - Infrastructure

Mace; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure firm in the UK seeks an experienced Senior Manager to lead the Biodiversity agenda. This role involves developing Biodiversity Net Gain plans and driving sustainability practices on major projects. Candidates should possess a strong background in environmental management and stakeholder engagement, along with a relevant degree and experience in complex project delivery.

Qualifications

• Chartered Environmentalist or similar qualification is desirable.
• Proven experience leading biodiversity delivery on complex projects.
• Strong knowledge of UK legal and planning system regarding BNG.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of Biodiversity Net Gain plans for clients.
• Champion environmental legacy outcomes including sustainability.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior team members.

Skills

Biodiversity Net Gain delivery

Stakeholder engagement

Business development

Education

Undergraduate degree in ecology, conservation, or environmental discipline

Postgraduate qualification in related field

Job description

The opportunity

Mace is seeking an experienced and driven Senior Manager to lead the Biodiversity agenda on major infrastructure programmes. As the Biodiversity Lead, you will play a pivotal role in delivering biodiversity net gain requirements, embedding best practice, achieving compliance with relevant legislation and standards to ensure resilience, innovation, and long-term legacy for clients.

You will work closely with clients, delivery partners, and internal teams to shape strategic direction, provide technical oversight, and champion biodiversity across project lifecycles. Internally, you will contribute to business growth through work-winning, bidding leadership, and client relationship development within the infrastructure market.

This is a senior role, suitable for an expert with a strong track record of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) delivery and management on complex infrastructure projects and the ability to drive change at both strategic and operational levels.

The successful candidate will join the Responsible Business team to take accountability for client-facing consultancy services and support team growth. Successful candidates will also contribute significantly to Mace’s corporate Pursue a Sustainable World programme and help to upskill colleagues and industry partners on innovations, best practices and legislative changes.

Your responsibilities will include

For our clients

• Lead the development and implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain plans and client-specific biodiversity requirements, in alignment with latest UK legal and planning requirements.

• Provide strategic direction and oversight of Biodiversity delivery, including the biodiversity management processes, performance measures, and KPIs, ensuring delivery of best practice in terms of sustainability, biodiversity and environmental management.

• Support clients in defining and achieving overall environmental performance objectives, including biodiversity and nature-based solutions for climate change.

• Establish and implement upskilling and knowledge transfer programmes to embed biodiversity and nature awareness and capability within client organisations and delivery teams.

• Champion environmental legacy outcomes, including biodiversity, ensuring sustainability is embedded beyond project completion through innovative practices, stakeholder engagement, and measurable long-term benefits.

For our business

• Lead work-winning and bidding activities, developing compelling propositions and methodologies for infrastructure clients.

• Drive business development initiatives in the sustainability and infrastructure sectors, identifying opportunities for growth and maintaining strong relationships with key accounts.

• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to consultants and junior team members, fostering a high-performance culture within the sustainability team.

• Contribute to service development and thought leadership, shaping Mace’s approach to delivering biodiversity and nature-based solutions services in the infrastructure sector.

• Support delivery of the wider Responsible Business business plan, working in collaboration with market and service leads to achieve strategic growth objectives.

About you

• Undergraduate degree in an ecology, conservation, environmental, sustainability, or infrastructure-related discipline (e.g., Environmental Science, Geography, Engineering, or similar).

• Or, Postgraduate qualification in a related or adjacent field (e.g., Environmental Management, Climate Policy, or Infrastructure Planning) is desirable.

• Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) or Full Chartered Member of ISEP (formally, IEMA) or Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) is desirable.

• Proven experience of leading biodiversity delivery on complex infrastructure or capital projects.

• Strong working knowledge of the UK legal and planning system with respect to BNG, environmental assessment and management, including natural capital standards and 10% Biodiversity Net Gain requirements.

• Demonstrable experience in client-facing roles, including influencing senior stakeholders and building long-term relationships.

• Experience in business development, bidding, and strategic market growth.

Successful candidates will be passionate about delivering sustainable infrastructure. They will place particular emphasis on placing environmental management at the forefront of its design, pushing boundaries and driving change.