Nature Positive / Ecology Lead

Waterman Aspen; Derby; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading environmental consultancy as a Nature Positive / Ecology Lead, where you will spearhead ecological projects and ensure compliance with environmental standards. Benefit from a supportive work environment offering career development, mentoring, and exposure to diverse projects. Enjoy a competitive salary and an industry-leading benefits package while making a significant impact on biodiversity and environmental health.

Benefits

Contribution to commuting mileage

Permanent health insurance

25 days annual leave

Company pension contribution

Paid community volunteer day

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in ecological consultancy and related fields.
• Proven track record in Biodiversity Net Gain assessments.
• Strong knowledge of UK wildlife legislation.

Responsibilities

• Manage environmental projects ensuring compliance with UK and EU legislation.
• Conduct ecological assessments and lead species mitigation plans.
• Engage with clients and stakeholders to meet project objectives.

Skills

Ecological consultancy

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

Project management

Client engagement

Legislation compliance

Leadership

Business development

GIS Mapping

Mitigation design

Education

Chartered Ecologist (CEcol)

Tools

GIS

Job description

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You’ll get all the benefits of being employed by us, while working on a variety of projects for our clients. Joining Waterman Aspen as a Nature Positive / Ecology Lead – Principal to Technical Director level will see you as a key member of the Water and Environment team and you can expect:

• A varied client base where you can apply and develop your skills
• Buy-in from clients to assist in your technical progression
• Further exposure to your chosen industry – increasing your awareness, knowledge and sharpening your skills
• The flexibility to broaden your horizons with each new secondment, without changing your employer
• Career development and training to reach your professional or academic qualification goals supported by our own network of mentors and managers
• Paid subscription to a professional body of your choice
• Regular social events and volunteering opportunities
• Ecology & Environmental Consultancy: Extensive experience in ecological consultancy or related fields, with a focus on protected species surveys, mitigation design, and habitat assessment.
• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG): Proven track record of assessing BNG and developing and delivering BNG strategies in a variety of projects, ensuring measurable improvements.
• Mitigation Design: Expertise in designing and implementing species mitigation plans and ecological enhancements that comply with UK legislation and planning policies.
• UK Habitat Classification & Botanical Surveys: In-depth knowledge and hands-on experience conducting UK Habitat Classification surveys and botanical assessments.
• River Morphology & Nutrient Neutrality: Experience leading river morphology surveys and conducting nutrient neutrality assessments to ensure projects meet environmental standards for water quality.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage small, medium and large-scale ecological projects, including timelines, budgets, and team coordination, while maintaining high environmental standards.
• Client & Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated experience working with clients, local authorities, and regulatory bodies to meet project objectives and environmental obligations.
• Legislation & Compliance: Strong knowledge of UK and EU wildlife legislation, planning policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Leadership & Team Management: Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience managing teams of ecologists, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Business Development: Proven track record of winning work streams via pre-positioning and developing winning bids
• Chartered Membership: Chartered Ecologist (CEcol) or working towards chartership with a relevant body (e.g., CIEEM).
• DEFRA Metric & Biodiversity Accounting: Experience with the DEFRA biodiversity metric and other biodiversity accounting frameworks.
• Innovative Nature-Positive Solutions: Experience in developing innovative, nature-positive strategies that balance conservation with development goals.
• GIS Mapping & Analysis: Proficiency in GIS and other ecological mapping and data analysis tools.

You’ll get this and so much more…

As a salaried colleague, you’ll get a salary in line with your experience, skills and location along with an industry-leading benefits package:

• Contribution to commuting mileage
• Permanent health insurance
• 25 days annual leave (option to buy up to 5 more), in addition to the normal public holidays (based on a 40 hour week, pro rata for part-time colleagues)
• Company pension contribution
• Salary sacrifice to buy additional benefits
• 1 paid Waterman Aspen in the Community Day to volunteer in your local community