Overview

LUC‘s ecology team routinely collaborates with our planning and landscape management colleagues on the development of plans, policies and strategies, for a wide range of public and private sector clients. Current projects include the preparation of Green/Blue Infrastructure Strategies, Strategic Biodiversity Net Gain Capacity Studies and Local Nature Conservation Site Reviews.

As the UK environmental policy landscape continues to evolve, so too does the recognition of the importance of biodiversity. In 2021, we intend to further strengthen our ecology team’s capacity to support and inform our strategic environmental planning portfolio. We seek a strategic ecological consultant or senior consultant to help achieve this ambition.

Based within, and supported by, our existing ecology team, the successful candidate will work across the practice, bringing their ecological knowledge to strategic projects. The role will involve contributing to literature and policy reviews, supporting consultation exercises and applying knowledge of UK biodiversity policy and legislation to projects.

While successful candidates will largely be involved in strategic environmental planning projects, they will also have the opportunity to engage in the wider portfolio of our UK-wide ecology team. Our ecology team works across a wide range of ecological disciplines and project types and enjoys a diverse and challenging orderbook.

The role includes the opportunity to share and participate actively in the management and ownership of the business through the Employee Ownership Trust, which places full ownership of the company with the employees.

This role could be based in any of our English offices (London, Bristol or Manchester), however we are particularly keen to hear from candidates in the north of England. We are happy to discuss a blend of working from home and the office if desired (once pandemic risks / restrictions are lifted). You will need to make occasional visits to other LUC offices as well as conducting site work.

A full time role would be based on 37.5 hours Monday to Friday. However, LUC has a strong track record in flexible working and we have been recognised for our flexible working culture, so we are happy to discuss a range of flexible working options for this role including some remote working and /or part time hours (minimum 30 hours per week) if desired.

Salary range: £22,000 – £32,000 FTE depending on experience (Consultant – Senior Consultant grade)

About you:

The successful candidate will complement our existing enthusiastic and dedicated ecology team. You will share our commitment to high quality science and be motivated to help grow and develop our business, as an equal partner.

Experience and qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level or with equivalent level of skills and knowledge.
  • Appropriate professional qualification (e.g. CIEEM) at a relevant level.
  • Working knowledge of habitat creation and management and how this can be used to deliver reconnection, recovery and enhancement of habitat networks.
  • Understanding of landscape ecology and the influence of soils, hydrology, topography on landscape-scale ecology.
  • Understanding of the policy and legislation underpinning nature conservation in the UK.
  • Familiarity with the use of strategic datasets.

Desirable

  • Understanding future farming and ecosystem service funding streams beneficial.
  • Working knowledge of GIS.
  • Wider experience of ecological consultancy, including survey experience in a range of taxa.

Personal Attributes

  • Strong organisational skills.
  • Excellent communication skills and a proactive approach to building relationships with colleagues and project partners.
  • Appetite for continuous learning and professional development.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

To apply please email your CV and a covering letter, quoting reference: 2021-01 to Jennie Williamson, People & Culture Advisor at: HR@landuse.co.uk.

Closing date for applications: Friday 26 February 2021.

LUC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. We value the differences, needs and contributions a diverse workforce represents, and we strive to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all our people related activities.