Graduate Ecologist - Bristol

Arup; West of England; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit Share

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Accident Insurance

Income protection

Flexible benefits

Flexible working

Job summary

Arup is seeking graduate consultants to join the Nature team within Environment, Climate and Sustainability in the UK. You will contribute to biodiversity assessments, ecological surveys, and policy guidance, while developing skills through mentoring and structured training.

You’ll work with clients and engineers to integrate ecological considerations into projects across diverse portfolios. You should have a relevant bachelor’s degree, an interest in ecology, and a willingness to travel for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline; fieldwork knowledge and willingness to travel.
• Full UK driving licence and ability to undertake fieldwork as required.
• Knowledge of UK ecology and legislation; strong technical writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Undertake ecological surveys and fieldwork to collect habitat data and support environmental assessments.
• Use GIS and digital tools to collect, analyse, and visualise ecological information.
• Assist in preparing technical reports, EIAs, and Biodiversity Net Gain documentation.
• Support biodiversity assessments, evaluating impacts and identifying mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate ecological considerations into projects.

Skills

Technical writing

Communication

Teamwork

MS Office

Driving licence

Fieldwork

Education

Bachelor's degree (relevant discipline)

Tools

GIS

Survey123

ArcGIS Field Maps

Job description

You see the world through a unique lens and that’s exactly what we need. We embrace how you see things differently – it’s essential for creating a sustainable future.

Arup is a global consultancy with advisory and technical expertise across more than 150 disciplines. We guide, plan and design the future of the built environment. Globally, each year we recruit hundreds of graduates and students who help us see things differently and solve the most complex challenges facing our clients, climate and communities.

The Opportunity

We are seeking graduate consultants with diverse skills and interests in nature, ecology and biodiversity to join our Nature team within Environment, Climate and Sustainability, a multi-disciplinary service. Our graduates contribute to a diverse portfolio of projects, supporting the development of nature-related policy and guidance, environmental and biodiversity assessments, ecological field surveys, assessing and auditing natural capital and corporate nature-related financial disclosures, and the design and delivery of solutions that support nature recovery and net zero. The role also involves working with clients and stakeholders, supporting regulatory approval processes, managing environmental risks, and helping to deliver sustainable and resilient outcomes for projects and organisations. From your first day you’ll join an unrivalled community of experts, where you will be supported and mentored. You’ll help us to deliver effective and professional services for a range of varied and high- profile clients. You’ll have a good level of responsibility from day one which will increase as you progress and broaden your skills.

• Undertake ecological surveys and fieldwork to collect data on habitats and protected species, supporting environmental assessments and project design, developing professional and technical skills through structured training and mentoring.
• Use a range of digital tools and technologies, including GIS, mobile data capture applications, remote sensing, ecological databases and data visualisation platforms, to assist with the collection, analysis, interpretation and communication of ecological information.
• Assist in the preparation of technical reporting, including survey reports, ecological appraisals, and sections of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Habitats Regulations Assessments.
• Support biodiversity and nature-related assessments, helping to evaluate impacts on ecological receptors, and assisting in the identification of mitigation solutions.
• Work collaboratively within multidisciplinary project teams, liaising with engineers, planners, landscape architects, environmental specialists, and clients to help integrate ecological considerations into projects.

For this opportunity, we are seeking the following qualifications, skills and attributes:

• A bachelor's degree in relevant academic discipline, such as relevant degree; survey/ fieldwork knowledge/ experience; a full UK driving licence and willingness to undertake fieldwork and travel; knowledge of UK ecology and legislation; technical writing ability; communication & teamwork; competent use of Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.

Skills and technical experience interested in:

• Experience of UKHab or Phase 1 habitat surveys; protected species survey experience (bats, GCN - Great Crested Newt, dormouse, reptiles, birds, etc.) and species identification skills.
• GIS experience.
• Experience of digital survey tools such as Survey123, ArcGIS Field Maps or similar.
• Knowledge of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and the Defra Metric.
• Understanding of Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) and Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA).
• Membership of CIEEM (Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management at Student, Qualifying or Graduate level).

Eligibility

Please note that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Therefore, you must ensure that you are eligible to work permanently in the UK without our sponsorship.

To be considered for a graduate opportunity, your application must include a copy of your academic transcript and meet the following criteria:

• Full working rights in the country of application
• No more than 12 months of full-time experience in a comparable role
• Recently graduated, or on track to graduate, from your most recent degree, related to your role of choice, before employment starts.

Alongside your degree, we look for the following core attributes;

• Changemakers: A passion for sustainable development and creating a better world is key.
• Innovative minds: We’re looking for critical thinkers who embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo.
• Growth seekers: You have a growth mindset, always eager to learn and explore new ways of working.
• Adaptable adventurers: You’re ready to take on any challenge that comes your way.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling permanent members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We take an approach to flexible working that supports the diversity and wellbeing of our graduates.

We also provide for our permanent members Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accidentinsuranceand Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Next Steps

We've designed our application process to be straightforward and supportive, giving you the opportunity to showcase your skills and potential.

The process includes an online application, psychometric testing, application review, case study, interview and offer stage. Our friendly Early Careers team is available throughout the process to answer questions and help you feel confident every step of the way.

Different people, shared values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas - this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact [e-mail] to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.

As a Disability Confident Level 2 Employer in the UK, we will strive for one third of all our interview places to be allocated to candidates who have disclosed they are disability confident and best meet the requirements of the role.

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Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom