Managing Consultant Biodiversity

Growth For Impact; New Delhi; On-site; INR 3,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM Group is seeking a Biodiversity Managing Consultant to lead complex biodiversity workstreams for global infrastructure projects. You will oversee EcIA/ESIA chapters, habitat screening, and mitigation inputs, coordinating with regional ecology leads and GIS teams.

You will guide data-driven analyses using ArcGIS Pro or QGIS, apply biodiversity metrics, and ensure high-quality, policy-aligned deliverables across multiple jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in ecology or biodiversity; a Master’s degree is strongly preferred.
• Extensive experience leading biodiversity scoping and EIA/ESIA deliverables.
• Proven ability to translate complex ecological data into decision-ready advice.
• Strong working knowledge of environmental impact assessment processes and regional/national frameworks.
• Advanced technical writing and review capabilities in English.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical delivery of biodiversity scoping, baseline, impact assessment and reporting workstreams.
• Define methods, data needs, assumptions, and interfaces with regional teams.
• Oversee quality reviews ensuring outputs are evidence-based and fit for purpose.
• Plan resources, monitor progress, and manage risks and budget across assignments.
• Coach consultants and contribute to knowledge sharing and templates.

Skills

Biodiversity management

EcIA/ESIA

ArcGIS Pro / QGIS

Stakeholder management

Technical writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in ecology / biodiversity

Master's degree preferred

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

QGIS

Job description

ROLE
– Lead complex biodiversity and ecological baseline constraints and impact-assessment workstreams integrating protected-area, designated-site, habitat and species data.
– Author and technically review EcIA/ESIA chapters, critical habitat and natural habitat screening, technical appendices, scoping reports

Full job description

Why this role matters?

As a Biodiversity Managing Consultant you will lead and technically oversee desk-based biodiversity workstreams supporting ERM's global Capital Project Delivery portfolio. You will translate complex ecological evidence into robust decision-ready advice for major infrastructure renewables transmission and distribution hydrogen carbon capture mining and diversified energy projects. Working within the CPD Nature & Biodiversity sub-team you will partner with regional ecology leads project managers and multidisciplinary teams to shape scope manage delivery assure technical quality and strengthen the capability of the CDH team. This is a desk and office-based globally connected role; field survey work is delivered by regional teams.

What your impact is?

Lead complex biodiversity and ecological baseline constraints and impact-assessment workstreams integrating protected-area designated-site habitat and species data from public and licensed sources.
Author and technically review EcIA/ESIA chapters critical habitat and natural habitat screening technical appendices scoping reports and biodiversity management or mitigation inputs to internationally recognised standards including IFC Performance Standard 6 and the Equator Principles.
Provide senior technical oversight of desktop habitat mapping constraints and buffer analysis and preliminary wetland and habitat delineation working closely with GIS specialists and regional technical experts.
Apply the mitigation hierarchy and guide proportionate approaches to biodiversity metrics net gain no-net-loss offsets and monitoring requirements recognising applicable regional policy and project context.
Manage multiple workstreams from scoping and resourcing through delivery review and close-out maintaining control of quality programme budget dependencies and risks.
Serve as a trusted technical and delivery contact for regional project and ecology leads communicating findings limitations risks and recommendations clearly.
Build team capability through coaching technical review knowledge sharing and development of consistent methods templates and quality controls.

What will you bring?

Bachelor's degree in ecology zoology botany wildlife science environmental science conservation forestry biological sciences or a closely related discipline; a relevant Master's degree is strongly preferred.
Typical 7-10 years of relevant experience in environmental or ecological consulting EIA/ESIA applied research or an NGO or government body including substantial responsibility for biodiversity assessment on infrastructure energy or development projects.
Demonstrable experience leading biodiversity workstreams coordinating multidisciplinary inputs and producing technically robust deliverables within agreed scope budget and programme.
Strong working knowledge of environmental impact assessment processes and biodiversity assessment methods with experience of India's EIA regime and/or international lender and regional frameworks. The ability to work across multiple regulatory contexts is essential.
Advanced technical writing and review capability in English with the judgement to turn complex evidence into clear conclusions limitations mitigation commitments and practical recommendations.
Working knowledge of ArcGIS Pro and/or QGIS sufficient to direct spatial analysis interrogate mapping outputs and quality-check figures and supporting datasets. Specialist GIS production may be delivered with ERM's GIS teams.
Strong stakeholder management commercial awareness and communication skills with the ability to influence across cultures disciplines and time zones.
Proven commitment to technical quality professional ethics inclusive teamwork and safe delivery.

Preferred qualifications skills & competencies

NABET-QCI accreditation or experience as an EIA functional-area expert in Ecology & Biodiversity or an equivalent recognised ecological credential.
Experience with major infrastructure and lender-led regimes such as IFC PS6 critical habitat assessment biodiversity action planning lender due diligence NSIP/DCO or comparable frameworks.
Applied experience in one or more specialist areas such as wetlands and waterbodies threatened species and habitats biodiversity net gain ecosystem services offsets nature-related risk or TNFD-aligned screening.
Experience contributing to proposals scope and fee development delivery planning change control and client-facing technical discussions.
Experience mentoring consultants and reviewers supporting competency development and building consistent delivery practices within a global team or hub environment.
Familiarity with remote sensing automation AI-enabled tools or digital approaches that improve biodiversity baseline assessment review and reporting workflows.

Key responsibilities

Lead the technical delivery of biodiversity scoping baseline impact assessment mitigation and reporting workstreams.
Define proportionate methods data needs assumptions review points and interfaces with regional teams and other disciplines.
Undertake and document technical and quality reviews ensuring outputs are accurate evidence-based traceable and fit for client and regulatory use.
Plan resources allocate work monitor progress and manage risks dependencies scope and budget across concurrent assignments.
Guide and coach consultants providing clear feedback and supporting the development of stronger technical judgement and delivery ownership.
Support bids and proposals through technical approach scope resourcing schedule assumptions and level-of-effort inputs.
Contribute to thought leadership communities of practice and the standardisation of templates methods review checklists and tracker tools.
Maintain current knowledge of relevant biodiversity policy guidance standards metrics and emerging nature-related frameworks across the regions supported by ERM.
Adhere to ERM's Health & Safety ethics information-management and quality-management requirements in all project work.

Job Type

Full Time

Job Posted

October 30th, 2026

ERM Group

ERM is the world’s leading sustainability consultancy, helping organizations manage risk, improve performance, and accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.