Overview

We are a consultancy specialising in biodiversity management. Our main base is in Cambridge (UK) and we have a growing number of consultants located in strategic sites around the world. We work with leading clients across many sectors with the goal of achieving an environmentally sustainable basis for development, by delivering practical solutions for managing biodiversity risk and achieving conservation outcomes. We advise on some of the most environmentally complex development projects in the world, across sectors, including renewable energy (particularly hydropower, wind, solar, and geothermal), extractives (mining and oil & gas), agriculture, infrastructure, consumer goods and finance.

Person specification

You are an outstanding individual who is able to take decisions and a strategic approach to designing and leading projects in diverse situations in both English and French. You are highly self-motivated, at the same time you are an adept team player, comfortably able to work within dispersed multi-cultural teams in different environments and countries. You have had a developing-world focus in your work, and understand that human and biodiversity issues cannot be separated in such contexts.

An ability to think creatively and put oneself in the shoes of our clients is critical. This capacity to understand our clients’ views, coupled with core ecological principles and biodiversity knowledge common to conservation planners/ecologists/protected area specialists is the making of a TBC consultant. You are politically savvy and able to communicate your ideas succinctly and clearly to non-specialists. You enjoy building good relations with clients, colleagues and collaborators working in nature conservation and with business sectors, such as renewable energy, mining, project and investment finance, apparel, food and other consumer goods. We will look favourably on applicants with core ecological expertise and significant experience in one or more of the following sectors: supply chains/consumer goods, investment finance and/or development projects in developing countries.

Self-motivation and rigour will be essential. Importantly, you will possess a strong analytical mind with the capacity to transform complex problems into brief, scientifically and politically defensible solutions. You have outstanding writing skills, being able to digest, dissect and condense large amounts of information into readable, technically sound summaries. We need excellent communicators who can explain the benefit of our work, as well as write clear concise reports and papers.

You are already well-established within the field of business and biodiversity. You now relish the opportunity to play a leadership role in supporting and delivering TBC’s strategy, with a particular focus on our francophone clients and geographies.

Job description

Roles

Project Management: consisting of technical design and critical review of complex projects, and ensuring timely delivery of on-budget projects to the requisite level of quality
Planning and monitoring TBC resource allocation to upcoming projects, ensuring both the availability of effective project teams and reducing non-productive time for individual consultants
Client relationship building and management
Technical project work for clients, and building biodiversity and ecosystem services management / risk assessment capacity within client teams, including elements such as design and implementation of baseline surveys, biodiversity metrics, ecosystem services reviews, impact assessment, and mitigation hierarchy, including biodiversity offsets
Direct negotiation and/or relationship building with industry, government, NGOs, international financial institutions and scientific institutions
Developing strategic and innovative proposals of work with new or existing clients, and in new and existing sectors, including using your own network
Public speaking on behalf of TBC to maintain our careful line between pragmatism and rigour (e.g. at conferences/industry events)
Development of government biodiversity and offsets policies
Working as an advisor to Financial Lenders on whether a client is meeting their standards; and conversely with the clients themselves to explain / negotiate what is required by these standards (Environmental and Social Due Diligence)
Networking within the conservation movement and also with universities
Leading stakeholder engagement processes, both remotely and in-country, with government, civil society and industry
Researching and authoring scientific or policy papers and other articles
Management of TBC associates and junior consultant(s). This consists of Personnel management (time / resources management) in addition to project management
Contributing to the progressive and strategic development of TBC
Standing in to Technical Directors in their absence
Other Senior Principal Consultant level work, as requested by the TBC Directors.
Attributes

Essential attributes

At least ten years’ experience in biodiversity conservation
Experience of managing and delivering multiple complex projects
Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
An acute understanding of human politics and institutional dynamics
Experience of supervising or managing individuals and/or small teams
Interest and experience of working with the private sector; ability to understand their needs, and operate strategically within client organisations which might hold vastly different core values
Familiarity with international biodiversity, ecosystem services, natural resource and livelihood issues, especially in the developing world
An ability to provide intellectual leadership, creativity and simplicity to problem solving
Sufficient GIS skills to design and evaluate analyses with our GIS team.
Willingness and enthusiasm to travel globally and work in challenging environments
Positivity and teamwork
A good Honours and Masters degree or other postgraduate qualification in relevant disciplines
Substantial project management and project sponsorship experience
Good track record of business development and client relationship management
Multinational mining, oil and gas, renewables, agribusiness, supply chain, consumer goods, investment finance and/or government experience
Proven ability to work in French and English
Desirable attributes

PhD in a relevant discipline
Preferably a background as a field conservation specialist, understanding how to make conservation theory work in practice with communities and governments
An expert in biodiversity priority setting; a conservation planner; a protected areas specialist; HCV specialist; ecosystem services specialist or in biodiversity policy.
Experience and expertise in restoration ecology
Experience of scientific publishing
Solid consultancy experience
Experience in management of ecosystem services and other human community/biodiversity issues
Proven ability to work in Portuguese or Spanish
Experience in community-biodiversity issues such as livelihoods and NTFPs
Broad and deep experience of biodiversity or ecosystem services risk accounting and due diligence across the finance and insurance sectors
More advanced knowledge of GIS.
Role details

Title: Senior Principal Consultant
Duration: Permanent
Location: Cambridge, UK.
Part-time/full-time: Full-time (near full-time also considered)
Salary range: £50,000-£65,000 PA (Full time) + benefits (25 days’ holiday, work pension scheme, life insurance and flexible working opportunities)
Application details

Applications as early as possible. Deadline 04 September 2020: Send the following to recruitment@thebiodiversityconsultancy.com

Up to date Curriculum Vitae
A short application letter explaining your interest in the job, showing clearly how you meet our job and person requirements.
Two short and succinct (maximum four pages each) extracts of work that you have written within the past two years – preferably one in French.