Conservation Adviser - Wessex Water

Countryside Classroom; Bath; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 20%

25 days' holiday rising to 28

Healthcare package

Life assurance

Job summary

Wessex Water is seeking a Conservation Adviser to join our Conservation team in Bath, with hybrid working arrangements. The role focuses on delivering biodiversity land management, providing expert advice across the business and engaging with volunteers and external stakeholders.

The successful candidate will have strong experience in conservation, ecology or the environmental sector, and a relevant degree. Travel across the Wessex Water region is expected.

Qualifications

• Five+ years in conservation, ecology or environmental sectors.
• Degree in Biological Sciences or Environmental Management preferred.
• Strong field, data and stakeholder liaison capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Deliver conservation land management across sites and liaise with teams and external partners.
• Progress projects, manage budgets and oversee contractors and consultants.
• Undertake surveys, monitor habitats and report to regulators.

Skills

Nature conservation

Ecological surveying

GIS software

Communication skills

Driving licence

Education

Biological Sciences degree

Environmental Management degree

Tools

MS Office

MS 365

Job description

• Job reference: 4908


• Base of work: Bath


• Closing date: 02 Nov 2026


• Company: Wessex Water


• Salary: Circa £36,000


• Contract type: Permanent


• Category: Science and environment

We have an exciting new vacancy for a 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, be free-thinking 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.

What you'll do

As a 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 progress project work, which may include desktop assessment, procuring and overseeing services from contractors and consultants, and reporting to our regulators. General project management activities will also include estimating costs of habitat works and managing budgets.

To conserve and enhance habitats and species of biodiversity importance, or areas of geological or heritage importance, you will undertake surveys, prescribe and oversee management, and implement monitoring.

What you'll need

To be successful in this role, you will be highly motivated by nature conservation and will have at least five 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 delivering nature conservation, ecology or environmental projects


• an understanding of and experience in ecological surveying, habitat identification and classification, monitoring, data analysis and recording


• 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 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 to an interactive health and wellbeing platform.


• Support from trained mental 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.