UK Nature

Join as our new UK Nature & Biodiversity Lead and thrive in a culture where wellbeing and tackling complex challenges is intrinsic.
The role can be based from either our Bath or London offices with hybrid working.
The Nature and Biodiversity team forms an integral part of the business and helps to shape entire projects by being involved at the outset and putting strategies in place to protect the environment, determine biodiversity priorities and weave best practice and net gain into their fabric. Our focus on strategic level projects, results in a highly varied and interesting workload.
The team prides itself on the consistent use of best practice and the quality of its work. If you're looking to make a positive impact and create real change you will be rewarded with an excellent salary and access to extensive learning and development opportunities, generous pension contributions, private medical, life, dental and travel insurance, flexible leave, and more.
This permanent position will require leadership of the UK Nature and Biodiversity team and will be responsible for the strategic growth of our UK nature-based solutions and ecosystem services portfolios, and input into the broader environmental net gain, Blue Green Infrastructure and Natural Capital service offers.
You will be expected to lead and mentor the existing team and support them in the delivery of their UK planning projects, refine and implement our nature-based solutions strategy, engage with clients, and collaborate across multiple disciplines to develop and deliver holistic solutions to the joint climate and nature crisis. You will be part of the Nature and Biodiversity leadership team, which includes internationally focused ecologists, and you will be a key member of a senior cross-discipline group responsible for taking forward Buro Happold's UK climate resilience work.
Experience in coaching and mentoring junior staff to develop their technical and consultancy skills and fostering a positive team culture
Knowledge and experience of the sectors in which ecology work is carried out in the UK and a strong awareness of recent developments in the ecology sector, including biodiversity net gain, off-site credits and nature-based solutions.
Understanding and experience in the application of Biodiversity Net Gain and how it relates to other ecosystem services, as well as being able to communicate the wider benefits of biodiversity to clients
Experience in developing innovative solutions to address complex project requirements
Extensive experience of advising on scheme design in relation to ecological impacts and biodiversity net gain, ecological impact assessments, habitat management and monitoring plans, and habitat regulations assessments
Experience of providing ecological services for infrastructure projects, including road and rail schemes
Experience in providing company or portfolio level technical input on corporate strategies, strategic guidance on landscape-scale projects, and nature-related disclosure framework reporting, including:
Project scoping and reporting for corporate strategies
TNFD assessments, ESRS4 under CSRD, SBTN and GRI 101 project-based nature-positive / net gain strategies, targets, and performance indicators
You will be part of the senior Nature and Biodiversity team helping inform its strategic direction and growth, with specific responsibilities for:
Overseeing and implementing the UK Nature and Biodiversity team’s growth strategy
Leading, and supporting others to lead the technical components of complex UK projects
Actively seeking out and securing new projects which will lead to profitable work
Maintaining and developing the highest standards of technical quality; Taking ownership of the UK teams’ financial performance, and managing change when difficulties are identified
Working with the Nature and Biodiversity leadership team to develop a strategy for growing our corporate biodiversity and strategic nature-positive work.
Hybrid working arrangements.
Attractive salary and benefits package including, private medical insurance, life assurance and income protection.
10% Car allowance
Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum (exclusive of bank holidays) and flexible holiday arrangements.
Generous company pension scheme.
Flexible benefits including cycle scheme, dental insurance, optical cover, travel insurance, season ticket loans, and corporate discounts.
Enhanced parenthood leave policies.
A strong commitment to your continuous development. A commitment to your wellbeing through a comprehensive employee assistance programme and wellbeing activities. A supportive and inclusive environment that will welcome you through social and outreach activities from the Young Employees Forum to mentoring.
Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us.