Nature Positive / Ecology Lead

Waterman Aspen; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in the UK is seeking a Nature Positive / Ecology Lead to join their Water and Environment team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in ecological consultancy, strong project management skills, and a proven track record in biodiversity net gain strategies. This role offers a competitive salary based on experience, skills, and location, along with an industry-leading benefits package including health insurance and generous annual leave.

Benefits

Contribution to commuting mileage

Permanent health insurance

25 days annual leave (with option to buy more)

Company pension contribution

Salary sacrifice for additional benefits

1 paid volunteering day per year

Qualifications

• Experience in ecological consultancy or related fields.
• Strong knowledge of UK and EU wildlife legislation.
• Ability to manage small to large-scale ecological projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead ecological projects ensuring environmental standards.
• Engage with clients and regulatory bodies to meet project objectives.
• Develop and implement species mitigation plans.

Skills

Ecological consultancy experience

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

Mitigation Design expertise

UK Habitat Classification knowledge

Project Management

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

Legislation & Compliance

Leadership & Team Management

Business Development

Chartered Membership (CEcol)

DEFRA Metric knowledge

GIS Mapping & Analysis

Education

Chartered Ecologist or working towards chartership

Job description

Salary: Dependent on experience, skills and location

Waterman Aspen welcomes engineers and technical specialists to make their mark by working on some of the biggest infrastructure projects or in delivering professional services across the UK. We specialise in secondment services, providing the right people, with the right skills for the job, at the right time.Our diverse client base includes local authorities, consultancies, public bodies and construction companies.

We take pride in supporting our colleagues throughout their careers. We’re a people-centric organisation, placing mutual respect and dignity in the highest regard. This is reflected in our approach to issues such as mental health and wellbeing, family friendly policies, social value, and net zero. We’re a Disability Confident Employer and an accredited Real Living Wage Employer.

We have big ambitions for the future, and we’d love for you to be part of it.

You’ll get all the benefits of being employed by us, while working on a variety of projects for our clients. Joining Waterman Aspen as a Nature Positive / Ecology Lead – Principal to Technical Director level will see you as a key member of the Water and Environment team and you can expect:

• A varied client base where you can apply and develop your skills
• Buy-in from clients to assist in your technical progression
• Further exposure to your chosen industry – increasing your awareness, knowledge and sharpening your skills
• The flexibility to broaden your horizons with each new secondment, without changing your employer
• Career development and training to reach your professional or academic qualification goals supported by our own network of mentors and managers
• Paid subscription to a professional body of your choice
• Regular social events and volunteering opportunities
• Ecology & Environmental Consultancy: Extensive experience in ecological consultancy or related fields, with a focus on protected species surveys, mitigation design, and habitat assessment.
• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG): Proven track record of assessing BNG and developing and delivering BNG strategies in a variety of projects, ensuring measurable improvements.
• Mitigation Design: Expertise in designing and implementing species mitigation plans and ecological enhancements that comply with UK legislation and planning policies.
• UK Habitat Classification & Botanical Surveys: In-depth knowledge and hands-on experience conducting UK Habitat Classification surveys and botanical assessments.
• River Morphology & Nutrient Neutrality: Experience leading river morphology surveys and conducting nutrient neutrality assessments to ensure projects meet environmental standards for water quality.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage small, medium and large-scale ecological projects, including timelines, budgets, and team coordination, while maintaining high environmental standards.
• Client & Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated experience working with clients, local authorities, and regulatory bodies to meet project objectives and environmental obligations.
• Legislation & Compliance: Strong knowledge of UK and EU wildlife legislation, planning policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Leadership & Team Management: Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience managing teams of ecologists, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Business Development – proven track record of winning work streams via pre-positioning and developing winning bids
• Chartered Membership: Chartered Ecologist (CEcol) or working towards chartership with a relevant body (e.g., CIEEM).
• DEFRA Metric & Biodiversity Accounting: Experience with the DEFRA biodiversity metric and other biodiversity accounting frameworks.
• Innovative Nature-Positive Solutions: Experience in developing innovative, nature-positive strategies that balance conservation with development goals.
• GIS Mapping & Analysis: Proficiency in GIS and other ecological mapping and data analysis tools.

As a salaried colleague, you’ll get a salary in line with your experience, skills and location along with an industry-leading benefits package:

• Contribution to commuting mileage
• Permanent health insurance
• 25 days annual leave (option to buy up to 5 more), in addition to the normal public holidays (based on a 40 hour week, pro rata for part-time colleagues)
• Company pension contribution
• Salary sacrifice to buy additional benefits
• 1 paid Waterman Aspen in the Community Day to volunteer in your local community

We have big plans for the future and we’d love for you to be part of it. If you’re interested in joining our team of engineering and technical specialists, take a look at our latest opportunities here.

We find you opportunities that perfectly match your expertise and career aspirations, with industry-leading training, development, and support at your fingertips.

Our people are the most important part of our business – in fact, they are our business – and building successful careers is what we’re all about.

Don’t just take our word for it – find out what some of our colleagues have to say about their career with Waterman Aspen.