Ecologist

Yorkshire Water; West Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car

Annual performance bonus (up to £1000)

Pension up to 12%

Life assurance 4x pension

Health/Dental options

Wellness day + 25 days leave

Cycle to work

Retail savings

Job summary

Yorkshire Water is hiring an Ecologist to join the Land & Property Finance team. You will deliver biodiversity net gain across capital projects, work with managers, and ensure ecological compliance from planning to construction. A degree in ecology or related field is required, with at least 3 years of relevant experience and a UK driving licence.

The role offers hybrid working in West Yorkshire with a competitive package, company car, and an extensive benefits scheme.

Qualifications

• Degree in an environmental or ecological discipline.
• At least 3 years ecological risk management experience in construction or utilities.
• Licence for protected species (Natural England) is preferred.
• Competent in HRA and SSSI processes.
• Willing to travel across Yorkshire with a full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Support project managers with ecological and BNG assessments and surveys at the right project stages.
• Review ecological reports to ensure recommendations are fit for purpose and timely.
• Embed ecology and BNG considerations from planning through construction.
• Provide expert ecology advice to managers, sponsors and delivery teams across capital schemes.
• Develop and implement Biodiversity Net Gain processes and guidance.
• Review HMMPs, Biodiversity Gain Plans and audit reports for compliance.
• Undertake site surveys and BNG related activities, including habitat bank scoping.
• Assist with regulatory outputs and data submissions.

Education

Environmental/ecological degree

Tools

GIS

BNG methodology

Job description

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water:

• We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience (£41,221 - £51,527)
• A company car
• Annual incentive related bonus (£1000 maximum bonus opportunity for the performance year)
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution)
• Development opportunities in line with the Ecologist progression plan
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus an extra wellness day!
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary
• A great benefits package – choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.
• Retail savings scheme
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: West Yorkshire / Hybrid Working (1-2 days in the office a week – Bradford – Relocating to Leeds Summer 2026)

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

We have an exciting opportunity for an Ecologist to join the Land & Property Finance team at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers. Could this be you?

What we do:

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year, can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this.

We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity.New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. The Land & Property Finance are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

This role supports the delivery of Yorkshire Water’s business strategy by providing expert ecology and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) advice across capital projects. You’ll work closely with project managers and delivery teams to embed ecological best practice, while supporting the implementation of Yorkshire Water’s BNG approach, including the management of the internal BNG bank.

Where you fit in:

As our Ecologist you will:

• Support Project Managers in commissioning, reviewing and acting on ecological and BNG assessments, including protected species surveys, at the right stage to reduce risk and inform design and optioneering.
• Support project teams by reviewing ecological reports, ensuring recommendations are fit for purpose and delivered on time.
• Work closely with town planning, regulators and delivery teams to ensure ecology and BNG considerations are embedded effectively from planning through to construction.
• Provide expert ecology and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) advice to project managers, sponsors and delivery teams across the full lifecycle of capital schemes, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance.
• Play a key role in implementing Yorkshire Water’s Biodiversity Net Gain approach, developing business processes, specifications and guidance to support consistent delivery.
• Commission and review Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMPs), Biodiversity Gain Plans and audit reports, ensuring submissions meet planning and legal requirements.
• Undertake site surveys which may include spot checks of high ecological risk projects during construction; BNG Audits; early-stage site walkovers with the design team to flag ecological risks; scoping surveys for the BNG Habitat Bank; and post construction surveys. Please note the majority of PEA and protected species surveys for our capital projects are undertaken by external consultants not the YW Ecology team.
• Review Habitat Regulations Assessments and assents for works affecting SSSIs.
• Manage and maintain ecological and BNG GIS data, ensuring records for BNG sites and protected species are accurate and up to date., including review of contractor‑submitted information.
• Advise the business on new and evolving environmental legislation, helping Yorkshire Water stay ahead of compliance requirements.
• Deliver training and guidance to colleagues and supply chain partners to raise ecological and BNG awareness.
• Support the delivery of regulatory outputs, including contributing data to the Annual Performance Report.

What skills & qualifications you will need:

• A degree in a relevant environmental or ecological discipline.
• At least 3 years’ experience managing ecological risk within construction, infrastructure or utilities.
• Strong experience delivering Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments, including use of the Statutory Biodiversity Metric and habitat condition assessments.
• Experience undertaking or reviewing UKHab surveys and Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs).
• Holder of at least one Natural England protected species licence, with experience of organisational or district licensing.
• Competent in reviewing or preparing HRA and SSSI assent applications.
• Confident using GIS systems to manage ecological data.
• Strong working knowledge of environmental legislation, with the ability to translate requirements into practical business advice.
• Highly organised, self‑motivated and able to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Willing to travel to sites across Yorkshire and hold a full UK driving licence.

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy!

Do we sound like your cup of tea?

If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third‑Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance.

All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required. We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Closing date for this role is the 2nd June of 2026!