Ecology Assurance Manager in Leiston

At Mace, our purpose is to redefine the boundaries of ambition. We believe in creating places that are responsible, bringing transformative impact to our people, communities and societies across the globe. Within our business we harness our unique combination of leading-edge practical expertise and project delivery to unlock the potential in every project.

Are you looking for a career which is rewarding, at the cutting edge of project development and where you can really make a difference? Come and join our expanding Sizewell C (SZC) team and work on one of the most exciting and largest megaprojects in the UK, whilst being at the forefront of the UK’s climate change agenda and energy policy. Sizewell C (SZC) will be a 3.2-gigawatt power station generating low-carbon electricity for around 6 million homes, playing a key role in our energy future, supplying reliable, clean electricity for at least 60 years.

Our values shape the way we consult, and define the people we want to join us on our journey, they are:

• Safety first - Going home safe and well
• Client focus - Deliver on our promise
• Integrity - Always do the right thing
• Create opportunity - For our people to excel

We are a purpose-led organisation that places diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do. Our responsible business practice group comprising 150+ people bring themselves to work each day to make a difference; to create a low carbon resilient world, shaping cities and building thriving communities, and helping our clients to realise their ambitions.

This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified ecologist experienced in delivering biodiversity net gain (BNG) to join Mace’s responsible business team. You will become part of our growing nature-based solutions team, delivering BNG and sustainable development on key consultancy projects across a range of sectors. You will support innovative and technically challenging low carbon projects, working with sustainable and pioneering clients looking to deliver at least +10% biodiversity net gain, technical ecology advice, nature-based solutions for climate change, and BREEAM outstanding on their projects.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Supporting the project feasibility stage with involvement in early design layout with the design teams, applying the mitigation hierarchy principles so biodiversity is considered early.
• Management of the delivery of Phase 1 and UKHab surveys, species surveys, river condition assessments, preliminary ecological appraisals (PEA), ecological impact assessments (EcIA)/environmental statement and habitat regulations assessments (HRA). This will include supporting Mace colleagues with the commissioning of the above, including preparing technical scopes for sub-consultants and developing strong working relationships with them.
• Completion of the Defra’s biodiversity metric.
• Supporting the landscape architects with the delivery of urban greening factor (UGF) targets.
• Preparation of biodiversity gain plans.
• Support and lead stakeholder engagement for biodiversity offsets opportunities in conjunction with delivery partners, communications teams, sponsors, local authorities, and special interest groups. Engagement with off-site biodiversity unit providers. Where required, advising on biodiversity statutory credits.
• Work collaboratively with local authorities to share knowledge on biodiversity management.
• Supporting the delivery of natural capital and ecosystem service assessments including using the environmental benefits from nature tool and supporting the development of Mace’s natural capital reporting service offer.
• Supporting BREEAM assessment reporting.
• Perform GIS mapping.
• Working with landscape architects to deliver green infrastructure plans, nature-based solutions and biodiversity requirements.
• Technical assurance of ecology and biodiversity assessments and reports, landscape and ecological management plans (LEMP), Habitat management and monitoring plans (HMMP) and construction environmental management plans (CEMP).
• Support environmental and social appraisals (ESA) for the programme if required.
• Working with construct project teams to deliver best practice in terms of protecting and enhancing ecology and supporting them with specific ecology queries - translating technical requirements into layperson language to ensure all stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities.
• Management of biodiversity on construction sites as the ecological clerk of works (ECoW). Supporting the delivery of SITES assessment on new construction projects.
• Management of licence applications, including developing mitigation and monitoring.
• Advising clients on how they can deliver their strategic ecology priorities and nature-based solutions, including writing policies and developing portfolio/estate-wide strategies with them.
• Delivering training and support to the wider team and mentoring junior team members.

You’ll need to have:

• You would be considered a ‘suitably qualified ecologist’, meeting the majority of the following requirements:
• Holds a degree or equivalent qualification (e.g., N/SVQ level 5) in ecology or a related subject.
• Strong survey skills which include extended UK habitat surveys in support of BNG assessment.
• Preparing biodiversity net gain calculations and reporting.
• Natural capital and ecosystem service assessments using the environmental benefits from nature tool.
• Support urban greening factor (UGF) delivery including advising on planting species.
• GIS proficient (ArcGIS or QGIS).
• Full membership of one of the following organisations:
• Chartered institute of ecology and environmental management (CIEEM) (preferred).
• Chartered institution of water and environmental management (CIWEM).
• Institute of environmental management and assessment (IEMA).
• The Institution of environmental sciences (IES).