Business Director, Nature Services

The Biodiversity Consultancy; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job description

Salary: £75,000- £85,000

Location: UK

In this senior role, you will lead our work with global brands on their nature strategies to drive evidence-based, meaningful change in the private sector on nature and biodiversity. You will be responsible for setting the direction of our engagement with clients, for leading on shaping and expanding our portfolio of market-leading clients, managing key project and client relationships and working with our technical design experts to respond to market needs through innovative solutions for corporate action on nature. The focus of your work will be with clients with agri-based value chains, covering the food and beverage, beauty and personal care and fashion and apparel sectors.

As Business Director, you will be responsible for expanding our advisory services for existing and new corporate clients with agri-based value chains, working closely with the other Business Directors and Nature Services team to build and maintain an active pipeline of work. This includes proactively identifying and responding to priority needs for businesses within your target sectors, building external networks, and overseeing delivery to ensure high-quality products that fully align with our clients’ needs.

The Biodiversity Consultancy’s mission is to integrate nature into business and finance decision-making through science-based approaches. Your work will also include collaborating with industry bodies, sustainability initiatives, academia and civil society to share experiences, build capacity and help accelerate progress towards a nature-positive future.

Responsibilities

Strategy and business development

• Lead the development and implementation of the strategy and business plan for agri-based value chain clients.
• Drive new business and lead generation and develop and maintain existing and new client relationships, including using your network to meet revenue targets.
• Establish and nurture relationships with clients and other stakeholders relevant to your priority sectors, including industry, government, NGOs, academia, and international scientific institutions.

Mentoring and leadership

• As part of the Nature Services management team, hold shared responsibility for continuous improvement of our work, driving innovation and strategy implementation and building the team.
• Mentor members of the project delivery team, supporting technical design of projects, providing critical review, and supporting their professional development.

Project delivery

Sponsor and provide strategic support for large, complex projects, advising on deliverables and guiding stakeholder engagement. This accountability may include overseeing timely, on-budget delivery of projects to the requisite level of quality and technical substance.

Interpret and apply a range of frameworks and business drivers, including global goals, corporate policies, evolving supply-chain customer expectations and regulatory guidelines.

Develop and innovate new approaches for applying the mitigation hierarchy in complex value chains, helping companies to set and meet science-based targets for nature, and conducting value-chain foot-printing and risk-screening approaches.

Communication

• Contribute to the global agenda on transforming the business relationship with nature, such as through nature positive approaches.
• Elevate the visibility of The Biodiversity Consultancy globally as a trusted brand for businesses, including by writing and delivering presentations, attending events, and leveraging digital networks.
• Write and review material for business press, our website, and publications, with a strong focus on messaging that aligns with sector-specific requirements.
• Other duties commensurate with the role.

Essential attributes

• At least 10 years’ experience in managing business sustainability, procurement, business & biodiversity or similar field.
• Excellent network in the business sustainability sector, particularly from one or more of the three core sectors (food and beverage, beauty and personal care or fashion and apparel).
• Proven track record of business development and client relationship management in a consulting context, demonstrating a strong go-to-market approach and experience developing lasting relationships as a trusted advisor.
• Demonstrable active listening, client empathy, and client problem-solving skills.
• Experience of creating and directing work programmes and developing and implementing strategy.
• Substantial project management and project accountability experience.
• Experience or in-depth working knowledge of emerging leading practices in managing nature impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities, with sustainability disclosure frameworks (SBTN, CSRD, TNFD, etc.) and with industry good practice and regulation (e.g. RSPO, FSC, AFi, EUDR etc).
• Expertise in at least one area of environmental sustainability (e.g., carbon, water, pollution) and good understanding of biodiversity – i.e., ability to interface between main area of expertise and biodiversity.
• Excellent communication skills, including public speaking, workshops and writing.
• Ability to provide intellectual leadership, creativity and simplicity to problem solving.
• Honours degree in a relevant subject.

Desirable attributes

• A postgraduate qualification or a PhD in a relevant discipline.
• Willingness and enthusiasm to travel globally and when necessary.
• Proven ability to work in French, Spanish, or other languages.