Ecologist

DWR CYMRU WELSH WATER; Rhayader; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is seeking an ecologist to help manage the Elan Estate landscape in Mid Wales, delivering biodiversity enhancements across diverse habitats including hay meadows, grassland, and SSSI-designated areas.

You will advise tenants on farm management, support biodiversity and ecological resilience, and contribute to peatland restoration projects with the wider team, ensuring compliance with environmental obligations and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Advise on management of approximately 4,000 acres of farmland to enhance biodiversity and ecological resilience.
• Support tenants, especially new to their holdings, in understanding farm management requirements.
• Contribute to peatland restoration projects and related environmental surveys with the peatland team.
• Plan and deliver conservation work, ensuring compliance with statutory obligations.
• Engage with stakeholders and beneficiaries to promote environmental stewardship.

Job description

If you are enthusiastic about having a lasting impact on a landscape to support nature and climate goals, then we are looking for an ecologist who has the enthusiasm, commitment and understanding of this important landscape.

You will provide advice and guidance on the management of approximately 4,000 acres of in-hand farmland. These holdings comprise a diverse range of habitats, including species-rich hay meadows and pasture, acid grassland, ffridd, open hill habitats dominated by Molinia, dry heath, and smaller areas of woodland. The estate also contains numerous designated sites, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), all of which require careful management and compliance with relevant statutory obligations.

You will support tenants, particularly those new to their holdings, in understanding the management requirements of their farms and identifying opportunities to enhance biodiversity, habitat quality, and ecological resilience.

The position will also contribute to the delivery of peatland restoration projects currently being undertaken on the estate. This will include working closely with the wider peatland team, providing ecological advice and guidance, and supporting the planning and delivery of environmental surveys and related conservation work.

Based in the Elan Valley, you will be part of a dynamic team, ensuring a lasting legacy for generations to come. We are looking for a dynamic, 'can do' attitude and passion for engaging and empowering a wide variety of beneficiaries, partners and stakeholders in our special landscape.

In return, we offer a friendly and flexible working environment, great opportunities for professional development and the chance to make a positive difference in this unique landscape.

The Elan Valley is located in the Cambrian Mountains in Mid Wales in a unique landscape combining remote hill land, isolated farmsteads, steep-sided wooded valleys and the extraordinary feat of Victorian engineering which brings clean water to Birmingham.

The Elan Estate is owned by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water although a greater part of it is vested in the Elan Valley Trust on a 999 year lease. A principle function of the Estate is the provision of a clean water supply - this means that the whole area is managed in an environmentally friendly way in order to protect the water quality. This in turn means that the valley has a rich abundance of wildlife. In fact the whole area falls within the Cambrian Mountains Environmentally Sensitive area (ESA), is a Special Protection Area (SPA) for wild birds, has Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) for habitats and most of the land has been designated as various Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

We work hard to protect the flora and fauna of the Elan Estate and to encourage public access and environmental education, and to safeguard against inappropriate developments affecting the Estate.

The Elan Valley is located in the Cambrian Mountains in Mid Wales in a unique landscape combining remote hill land, isolated farmsteads, steep-sided wooded valleys and the extraordinary feat of Victorian engineering which brings clean water to Birmingham. The Elan Estate is owned by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water although a greater part of it is vested in the Elan Valley Trust on a 999 year lease. A principle function of the Estate is the provision of a clean water supply - this means that the whole area is managed in an environmentally friendly way in order to protect the water quality. This in turn means that the valley has a rich abundance of wildlife. In fact the whole area falls within the Cambrian Mountains Environmentally Sensitive area (ESA), is a Special Protection Area (SPA) for wild birds, has Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) for habitats and most of the land has been designated as various Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). We
work hard to protect the flora and fauna of the Elan Estate and to encourage public access and environmental education, and to safeguard against inappropriate developments affecting the Estate.