Senior Research Associate: Quantifying impacts of corporate environmental restoration initiatives

Lancaster Environment Centre; Lancaster; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent research institution in Lancaster is seeking a Senior Research Associate to investigate the impacts of corporate environmental restoration initiatives. Candidates should possess a PhD and relevant experience in data management and sustainability reporting. This full-time position offers flexibility and collaborates with notable project partners to enhance corporate sustainability practices. Start date: April 2026.

Benefits

Flexible working policies

Family-friendly arrangements

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in environmental accounting and corporate sustainability reporting.
• Proactive and enthusiastic approach.
• Vision for impact-driven science.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on business environmental restoration impacts.
• Document sustainability reporting and its implications.
• Work with project partners to identify environmental restoration case studies.

Skills

Statistical analysis

Data collation and management

Engagement with project partners

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Education

PhD or equivalent

Job description

Senior Research Associate – Quantifying impacts of corporate environmental restoration initiatives

An exciting opportunity for a researcher in corporate sustainability to join the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business, to conduct research on the impacts of business environmental restoration initiatives.

This is a full time, with some flexibility to allow part-time if required (enquiries welcome) based in Lancaster, with at least 3 days per week in person. Travel for collaborations as required.

The contract is for 3 years, with opportunities to apply for further funding to extend.

Project Overview

Lancaster Environment Centre and the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business are seeking to appoint a highly motivated and enthusiastic post-doctoral researcher to contribute to the UKRI-funded project ENTERPRISE: ENSuring Transformative Ecosystem Restoration by the Private Sector. The overall aim is to conduct research that allows businesses’ sustainability efforts to deliver maximal environmental and societal benefit. The focus of this post is on documenting how corporate environmental restoration initiatives are articulated in sustainability reporting, and how this impacts practice on the ground.

Research Questions

• Have new disclosure requirements resulted in demonstrable increases in the level of biodiversity and nature-linked data provided in corporate sustainability reporting?
• Is it possible to use corporate sustainability reports to quantify the environmental benefits of business environmental restoration initiatives in terms of land/sea affected, biodiversity change and carbon fixation?
• What important information is still lacking from corporate sustainability reports, that would allow policymakers and stakeholders to more effectively hold businesses to account for their nature impacts?
• Can industry leaders in sustainability be identified – and can their positive actions be used as a model to replicate good practice amongst other businesses within the same sector and/or geographical area?

Collaborations and Impact

You will work alongside project partners Global Reporting Initiative, using this research to guide the application of current and future reporting guidelines. You will also work alongside colleagues and project partners to identify case studies of successful business-led environmental restoration projects around the world. They will visit these projects to identify the business practices that are leading to particularly beneficial environmental outcomes and robust reporting, using this to inform recommendations for best practice. Applicants are also encouraged to think through their own ideas about corporate sustainability and reporting, and how their experience could be applied to this research area.

Qualifications

Preferred candidates will have a PhD or equivalent, with relevant experience in data collation and management, statistical analysis, writing publications and engaging with diverse project partners. Experience of environmental accounting and design or analysis of corporate sustainability reporting will be highly valued. A proactive and enthusiastic approach, good interpersonal and teamwork skills, an ability to work with diverse project partners, and a vision for impact-driven science are all essential.

Employment Details

Position is for three years, start April 2026. Travel as required. Flexible working policies and family-friendly arrangements.

Application Requirements

• CV – 2 page CV, publications not required in this document.
• Publication List – list of all publications, accepted or in press.
• Cover Letter – up to 800 words discussing interest and fit.
• Supporting Statements – 200 words max for each Personal Specification point scored via Supporting Statements.
• Referees – contact information for at least two referees.

Contact

Informal enquiries welcome to Dr Tim Lamont [e-mail]. For urgent response, contact Prof Jan Bebbington [e-mail]. Dr Lamont will be on paternity leave during part of the advertising period.

Recruitment Timeline

Shortlisting week commencing 1 December 2025. Interviews likely 10–12 or 15 December 2025. Successful candidate start April 2026.