Technical Lead –International Lenders Biodiversity Technical Lead

Arup; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Arup is seeking an experienced ecology and biodiversity professional to lead technical direction across a portfolio of international projects, helping clients navigate biodiversity, nature and sustainability requirements.

You will grow biodiversity and natural capital assessments, due diligence and monitoring, supporting E&S impact assessments and biodiversity net gain strategies across infrastructure, energy, transport, water and built environment sectors.

Qualifications

• Degree and professional track record in ecology/biodiversity.
• Experience with biodiversity assessments and due diligence.
• Familiarity with international finance biodiversity standards.
• Strong report writing and client engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead biodiversity due diligence, monitoring and assessments for international projects.
• Provide direction on biodiversity impact assessment and enhancement strategies.
• Apply lender requirements and contribute to nature-based solutions.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams and review technical reports.
• Develop and maintain client relationships and business opportunities.

Skills

Ecology expertise

Biodiversity assessment

Due diligence

Project leadership

Client relationship

Report writing

IFC standards

Foreign language

Education

Degree in Ecology or related

Tools

GIS

Job description

We are seeking an experienced ecology and biodiversity professional to join our growing Environment, Climate and Sustainability team. The role will provide technical leadership and project direction across a diverse portfolio of international projects, helping clients respond to biodiversity, nature and sustainability requirements, challenges and opportunities.

This role focuses on growing and leading the biodiversity and natural capital assessments, due diligence and monitoring required under international lenders performance standards (e.g. International Finance Corporation Performance Standard 6). You will lead and contribute to biodiversity due diligence and monitoring, assessments, environmental and social impact assessments, biodiversity net gain strategies, nature-based solutions across a range of sectors including infrastructure, energy, transport, water and the built environment. You will also help influence the market to adopt improved standards.

The role combines technical excellence, client engagement, project leadership and business development, supporting the continued growth of Arup's ecology and biodiversity services.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead ecological and biodiversity due diligence, monitoring and assessments for international and internationally-financed projects.
• Provide technical direction on biodiversity impact assessment, mitigation and enhancement strategies.
• Apply international biodiversity standards and lender requirements.
• Contribute to global standards and the development of lender requirements.
• Support the development and delivery of nature-based solutions.
• Actively engage with other subject-matter specialists to ensure practicable, sustainable and equitable solutions to biodiversity, ecosystem services and livelihood impacts and risks.

Project Delivery

• Act as Project Manager or Technical Lead on multidisciplinary projects.
• Ensure projects are delivered to programme, budget and quality requirements.
• Manage project teams and coordinate specialist inputs.
• Review technical reports and provide quality assurance.

Client Development

• Build and maintain trusted client relationships.
• Identify new opportunities and contribute to winning work.
• Support proposal preparation and business development activities.
• Represent Arup at client meetings, industry events and professional forums.

Team and People Leadership

• Build a network of international biodiversity and natural capital specialists.
• Support the development of ecology colleagues through mentoring and coaching.
• Contribute to recruitment, capability development and knowledge sharing.
• Promote collaboration across disciplines and geographies.

Skills and Experience

• Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biological Sciences or a related discipline.
• Significant consultancy experience in ecology and biodiversity.
• Strong technical understanding of international finance biodiversity, critical habitat assessment, BAP development, biodiversity offsetting and natural capital assessments.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary projects.
• Excellent report-writing and communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage client relationships and develop business opportunities.
• Membership of CIEEM or an equivalent professional body.
• Chartered status or working towards chartership.
• Experience working with international biodiversity standards and lender requirements.
• Experience of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment.
• Experience of undertaking due diligence and monitoring assignments against IFC Performance Standards or similar.
• Experience of running Biodiversity Net Gain assessments.
• Experience in running natural capital assessments.
• Knowledge of nature-based solutions and natural capital approaches.
• Protected species licensing or specialist ecological expertise.
• Experience of applying technical and consulting skills in emerging markets.
• Foreign language capability suitable for work, with preference towards French, Spanish, Mandarin, Portuguese or Arabic.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on high-profile and nationally significant projects.
• Career development within a global multidisciplinary organisation.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Access to industry-leading technical networks and expertise.Access to industry-leading technical networks and expertise.
• A collaborative and inclusive working environment focused on sustainable outcomes.