Principal Biodiversity Net Gain Specialist

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working

Professional development & chartership

Job summary

WSP in the UK & Ireland is seeking an accomplished Principal Biodiversity Net Gain Specialist to lead BNG assessments across major development and infrastructure projects in the UK. You will shape strategy, mentor teams and work with clients to deliver compliant, nature-positive outcomes.

As a senior professional, you’ll guide habitat creation, HMMPs and planning documents, integrate biodiversity into early feasibility through delivery, and drive technical excellence while supporting business

Qualifications

• Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Environmental Management or a related discipline.
• Significant experience delivering and leading Biodiversity Net Gain projects within consultancy, infrastructure, development or environmental sectors.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience mentoring, supervising or developing colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Lead and provide technical oversight of BNG assessments, statutory biodiversity metric calculations and habitat condition assessments.
• Develop and review BNG strategies, technical reports, Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMPs) and planning documentation.
• Advise clients and project teams on legislation, policy, guidance and ecological best practice.
• Develop practical on-site and off-site habitat enhancement, restoration and creation solutions.
• Support Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and planning applications.
• Drive consistency, innovation and technical excellence across the business.
• Mentor and support ecologists and BNG practitioners at varying career stages.

Skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Project management experience

Mentoring / supervision

Education

Degree in Ecology / Environmental Science / Environmental Management

Tools

GIS & spatial analysis

Job description

Job Description

What if you could shape a career as unique as you? At WSP, you can always find opportunities to grow and do what matters to you. Make the most of our global reach to discover new challenges and chances to work with diverse, talented individuals who will help you expand your horizons.

Shape nature-positive development. Deliver lasting environmental impact.

Are you a Biodiversity Net Gain expert looking to influence some of the UK's most significant development and infrastructure projects?

The Opportunity

As a Principal Biodiversity Net Gain Specialist, you'll lead the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain assessments and strategies across a diverse portfolio of projects. From early feasibility and planning through to implementation and long-term habitat management, you'll provide expert guidance that helps clients achieve compliant, innovative and sustainable outcomes.

You'll work alongside multidisciplinary teams including ecologists, environmental planners, landscape architects, GIS specialists, engineers and natural capital experts, helping to integrate nature-positive solutions into complex developments across the UK.

This is a highly visible role with excellent opportunities to contribute to business growth, develop thought leadership and influence best practice across the sector.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and provide technical oversight of BNG assessments, statutory biodiversity metric calculations and habitat condition assessments.
• Develop and review BNG strategies, technical reports, Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMPs) and planning documentation.
• Advise clients and project teams on legislation, policy, guidance and ecological best practice.
• Develop practical on-site and off-site habitat enhancement, restoration and creation solutions.
• Support Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and planning applications.
• Drive consistency, innovation and technical excellence across the business.
• Project & Commercial Leadership
• Manage projects and workstreams from inception through to delivery.
• Oversee programme, budget, resource planning, quality assurance and risk management.
• Identify project opportunities, manage scope changes and support commercial success.
• Deliver high-quality outcomes while balancing client expectations, risk and programme requirements.
• Client & Business Development
• Build long-term relationships as a trusted advisor to clients.
• Lead or contribute to proposals, tenders and winning work.
• Identify opportunities for growth across existing client accounts.
• Represent the business at industry events, workshops and technical forums.

People & Culture

• Mentor and support ecologists and BNG practitioners at varying career stages.
• Promote knowledge sharing and technical development across teams.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Champion health, safety and wellbeing across project delivery.

About You

You’ll be an established BNG professional with a strong blend of technical expertise, project leadership and commercial awareness.

Essential Experience

• Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Environmental Management or a related discipline
• Significant experience delivering and leading Biodiversity Net Gain projects within consultancy, infrastructure, development or environmental sectors
• Strong working knowledge of:
• Statutory Biodiversity Metric
• UKHab habitat classification
• Habitat condition assessment
• Biodiversity legislation, planning policy and guidance
• Experience preparing and reviewing:
• BNG Assessments
• BNG Strategies
• Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans
• Planning and consenting documentation
• Project management experience, including budget, programme and resource management
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Experience mentoring, supervising or developing colleagues

Desirable

• Full membership of CIEEM or equivalent professional body.
• Chartered Ecologist (CEcol), Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) or equivalent professional recognition.
• Experience supporting major infrastructure, transport, energy or water projects.
• Knowledge of natural capital, ecosystem services and wider environmental markets.
• GIS and spatial analysis experience.
• Experience developing guidance, tools, training or thought leadership.

Why Join Us?

This is more than a technical role. It's an opportunity to help shape how biodiversity is delivered across some of the UK's most exciting and complex projects.

About

You'll join a collaborative team of specialists who are passionate about creating positive environmental outcomes and driving innovation across the sector. In return, you'll benefit from:

• The opportunity to work on nationally significant projects.
• A strong pipeline of biodiversity and nature recovery work.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Industry-leading multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Ongoing professional development and chartership support.
• A culture that values expertise, innovation and impact.

Ready to make a lasting difference for nature?

If you're looking for a role where your technical expertise, leadership skills and passion for biodiversity can genuinely influence the future of development in the UK, we'd love to hear from you.