UK & Ireland Service Line Leader – Biodiversity & Ecosystems

Ramboll; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering consultancy is seeking an experienced Director to lead their Biodiversity and Ecosystems Service Line in the UK. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in environmental sciences and proven leadership skills, responsible for business development, strategic management, and delivering innovative solutions for clients. This role promises a collaborative and supportive environment, with flexible working opportunities and a commitment to professional development.

Benefits

Flexible working environment

27 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Private medical insurance

Qualifications

• Proven track record in leading teams delivering high-quality services.
• Experience in advising organizations on corporate biodiversity solutions.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of market trends.

Responsibilities

• Instil purpose and set direction for the Biodiversity and Ecosystems Service Line.
• Drive profitable growth and implement agreed business plans.
• Develop and enhance staff training and quality standards.

Skills

Client-focused approach

Leadership skills

Commercial acumen

Collaborative mindset

Innovative thinking

Education

Degree in environmental sciences or related discipline

Master’s degree in an environmental discipline

Job description

Your new role

Ramboll is looking for an experienced Director to lead our Biodiversity and Ecosystems Service Line in the UK, reporting to the Environment and Health UK&I Director. You will be working alongside other Service Line Leaders in Impact Assessment, Site Solutions, Air Quality, Noise & Climate, Health Sciences and Compliance, Strategy & Transactions. As our new Service Line Leader you will be responsible for the operation, development and growth of our UK&I ‘Biodiversity & Ecosystems’ service line. The service line is a national team, and part of our Impact Assessment and Biodiversity & Ecosystems (IA and B&E) global service line delivering nature positive solutions for private and public sector clients.

You will be responsible for maintaining and growing key client relationships, business development strategy, performance of project portfolios and the strategic management, growth and development of the teams within Biodiversity & Ecosystems. With experts in landscape, water, ecology, arboriculture, metrics and nature positive approaches, our Biodiversity and Ecosystems team can provide integrated and nature-based solutions to the most complex client challenges.

To succeed in this role, you must be both client-focused and have a proven track record in leading and developing teams that deliver technically excellent, high-quality services for our clients and collaborators. You should also have experience of advising organisations on corporate biodiversity & nature-based solutions both in the UK and internationally.

Inviting bright minds

Do you want to push the boundaries of your profession and develop your excellence in an open, collaborative and empowering culture? We work to create a sustainable future and our inspiring projects and innovative solutions aim to set the standard among our peers. You will join a global company that has been growing successfully since its founding in 1945. Together, we lead and leave a positive impact on societies, companies and people around the world.

You will join our Environment and Health Market

You will join our 3,000 strong global Environment and Health global business area and be an important part of our 450 strong Environment and Health team in the UK & Ireland. You will be responsible for our 130 UK&I biodiversity and ecosystem professionals. Our Biodiversity & Ecosystem colleagues operate out of ten UK offices, including locations in England, Scotland and Wales.

We offer a supporting and collaborative culture and environment, in which you can develop and grow in your role. Finally, we enjoy what we do! We are looking for naturally curious and personable people to join and strengthen our team.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Drive strategic direction: instil purpose and set the direction for the UK&I Biodiversity and Ecosystems Service Line, ensuring alignment with global business area, global service line and geography needs
• Drive profitable growth: Responsible for delivery of revenue, growth and profit of the Service Line against the budget. Develop and implement an agreed growth strategy and Business Plan (including financial KPIs) with priority actions for the Service Line. Enhance Ramboll’s market position through targeted marketing, business development and other activities
• Technical excellence: Develop and enhance staff development, training, mentoring, and work product quality in alignment with the Service Line strategy direction and business plan priorities, including establishing consistent proposal and report templates and scopes, where applicable
• Lead collaboration: develop strong and productive networks with other Ramboll Business Areas, Geographies, Service Lines and Sectors in order to bring the best of Ramboll to our clients
• Recruitment, resourcing and team building: Facilitate resource management as a national team, and plan and lead recruitment for the service line to enable resilient mix of competencies and overall service line growth
• Foster innovation: Promote the integration of new methodologies, tools, and practices to continuously improve the Service Line's value proposition, quality and efficiency.
• Risk Management: Implement Ramboll’s governance, project management and compliance process in the service line and instil the Ramboll Leadership Principles in the way we work. Determine bid go/no go opportunities and ensure compliance with the Decision Gate process
• Win Work: Lead selected/strategic client engagement and management (including Key Account Management), and support others to develop and grow trusted advisor relationships with our clients

Personal qualities that will help you succeed in this role include:

• A confident communicator with strong people leadership skills
• Commercial acumen with ability to mentor others to improve project and department performance
• Confident to lead and manage key client relationships
• Highly collaborative and able to demonstrate success through bringing teams together
• The ability to motivate and inspire high performing teams
• Ability to work with and manage stakeholders and partners with successful outcomes

About you

From the moment you start at Ramboll, we will support your personal and professional development so that you can continue to grow with the company. Whilst we look forward to supporting your continued learning and development, for this role we have identified some qualifications, skills, and capabilities that will set you up for success.

These include:

• Appropriate degree in environmental sciences, environmental engineering or a related environmental discipline
• Master’s degree in an environmental discipline (advantageous)
• Relevant sector experience, in particular supporting corporate biodiversity and delivery of nature based solutions in the UK and internationally
• Growth mindset, with ability to prioritise revenue growth through expanding team and personal sales and key client relationships
• Track record in leadership and P&L management roles
• Strong business acumen, understanding of market trends and value propositions
• Ability to identify skill needs and attract new consulting talent to support service line growth
• Strategic management of workload, deliverables and resources across multiple projects
• Effective communicator (both written and verbal)
• Innovative thinker, champion and catalyst for innovative approaches
• Collaborative partner, able to build strong and productive internal and external relationships
• Project ownership and direction, including project-related health and safety
• Developing client-facing trusted advisor relationships and personal work winning
• Full driving licence

What we can offer you

• Flexible working environment.
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Private medical insurance.
• The long-term thinking of a foundation-owned company.

Work at the heart of sustainable change

Ramboll is a global architecture, engineering, and consultancy company. We believe that the purpose of sustainable change is to create a thriving world for both nature and people. So, that’s where we start – and how we work. At Ramboll, our core strength is our people, and our history is rooted in a clear vision of how a responsible company should act. Being open and curious is a cornerstone of our culture. We embrace an inclusive mindset that looks for fresh, diverse, and innovative perspectives. We respect, embrace, and invite diversity in all forms to actively cultivate an environment where everyone can flourish and realise their full potential.

Ready to join us?

Please submit your application. Be sure to include all relevant documents including your CV, cover letter, etc.

Deadline - This position will be taken down on 10th October 2025.

We recognise that some candidates only apply when they tick every box. However, passion and potential often outweigh a perfect resume and Ramboll’s supportive learning culture can help you grow. So, if this role resonates with you but you don't meet all the requirements, we encourage you to apply. You might be the perfect fit for this opportunity or another within our team.

Ramboll in the United Kingdom

Founded in Denmark, Ramboll is a foundation-owned people company. Ramboll has a proven track record of sustainable and responsible business and is a top ten engineering and environmental and sustainability consultancy in the UK, with more than 1,500 employees across 16 offices working towards a more sustainable future. Ramboll experts deliver innovative solutions across Buildings, Transport, Environment & Health, and Energy. Strong values guide what we do and drive an inclusive, collaborative, and highly flexible culture that values people and ideas. Explore and nurture your own passion, expertise, and creativity at Ramboll through work that benefits our people, partners, nature, and society.

An equal opportunity employer

Equality, diversity, and inclusion is at the heart of what we do. At Ramboll, we believe that diversity is a strength, and that different experiences and perspectives are essential to creating truly sustainable societies. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive work environment, where everyone is able to flourish and reach their potential. We invite applications from candidates of all backgrounds and characteristics, in addition to the Protected Characteristics as set out in the Equality Act, (2010). As a Disability Confident Committed employer, Ramboll ensures opportunities are accessible to candidates with disabilities. Please reach out to our recruitment team to discuss any adjustments that you might require during the application process. We also know how important it is to achieve the right balance of where, when, and how much you work. When you join Ramboll, you’ll have the ability to work your hours flexibly through our positive and inclusive approach to work.