Nature & Biodiversity Lead

Due to significant and continued growth, a high growth, pioneering environmental consultancy who are one of the UK's leading providers of biodiversity and ecology consultancy to the built environment and construction world is looking for a motivated and talented professional Environmental Net Gain Principal to take the business and team to the next level. The role can be based anywhere (preferably in the North East) with travel to offices in Newcastle on an infrequent / hybrid basis.

You will focus on the design, evolution, and delivery of Environmental Net Gain services that meet clients' needs and stakeholder requirements. You will use your senior commercial consultancy experience to bid, win and deliver a range of environmental and Biodiversity Net Gain projects that exceed client expectations without compromising your passion for nature's recovery.

Responsibilities will include:

• Co-designing and implementation of nature-based solutions and assessment services for Environmental Net Gain, for landowners and developers alike, including Biodiversity, Carbon, Nutrients, Woodland Creation and Environmental Land Management Schemes.
• Biodiversity Net Gain, Nature based carbon and nutrients assessments services.
• Technical lead for all aspects of environmental service delivery including (but not restricted to) fee proposals, survey and assessment (protected species, habitat, biodiversity and nutrient neutrality), shadow Habitat Regulation Assessments (HRA), Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) and Ecology Chapters for EIA.
• Project Management (including budgetary and resource planning) of complex projects.
• Line management including training and mentoring of junior team including supporting career development.
• Promotion of services and company including social media and networking events.

You will have demonstrable knowledge of the principal pillars of environmental net gain including biodiversity, carbon, water, air, people and place and demonstrable project delivery experience across these themes in a commercial consultancy setting. This will be underpinned by a thorough understanding of the incoming legislation, national and local policy and an appreciation of the challenges and opportunities this presents to developers and landowners. Your knowledge and experience will be coupled with a creative and problem-solving mindset to develop and deliver innovative nature-based solutions.

Knowledge:

• Principles of BNG and creation, management and monitoring of Gain sites including habitat banks and nature recovery networks.
• Understanding of principles and application of Natural Capital Assessments.
• Nutrient Neutrality, nutrient credit markets and nature-based solutions.
• Carbon trading schemes and how carbon markets operate.
• Nature-based interventions/solutions.
• Nature-based markets (regulatory and voluntary).
• Environmental Land Management Schemes.
• Woodland grants.
• Water Framework Directive Assessment in a planning context (England), desirable.
• Extensive knowledge of Development Planning Regime UK and EU legislation, planning policy and best practice.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Min. of BSc degree in relevant environmental discipline.
• Professional membership (ie. CIEEM / IEMA).
• Critical thinking and application of ecological/environmental knowledge to achieve the best possible outcomes for people and wildlife.
• Proficient use of Office 365.

Salary / Benefits: Circa 50,000 - 60,000 negotiable plus:

• Health Insurance.
• Hybrid Working.
• Flexible Working Patterns.
• Professional Membership.
• Extensive Training and Development Support.
• Annual Profit Share Bonus.

This is a rare opportunity to shape and influence a growing consultancy both in terms of the services they offer and the team they build.

For a full in-depth job description and for immediate consideration please apply now. If your past experience doesn't match perfectly with every requirement of the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate.

Navartis are an equality and diversity recruitment agent and employer. Service advertised by Navartis are that of an Employment Agency/Business.