Agriculture, Forestry and Soils Lead

Company Description

At AECOM, we’re delivering a better world.

We believe infrastructure creates opportunity for everyone. Whether it’s improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive.

Our clients trust us to bring together the best people, ideas, technical expertise and digital solutions to our work in transportation, buildings, water, the environment and new energy. We’re one global team - 47,000 strong - driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world.

Here, you will have freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

The Environment & Sustainability (E&S) business is home to some 700 staff across the UK and Republic of Ireland and sits within the wider Environment, Water and Energy (EWE). E&S provides environment and sustainability solutions and is at the forefront of innovation with its support to AECOM’s digital programme, including PlanEngage, and the world-renowned Natural Capital Laboratory. E&S projects include nationally significant road, rail and other transport infrastructure projects, major water and wastewater-related developments, power projects including renewable energy projects (including offshore wind and solar), power transmission projects, commercial and residential development, marine and coastal development and mineral extraction. We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of efforts to address the key issues facing society, including decarbonising infrastructure, achieving net zero, adapting to climate change, and meeting growing demand for energy, water and other resources while at the same time reversing the decline in biodiversity, reflecting the value of natural capital and delivering social value through promoting community wellbeing.

**Job Description**:
AECOM are seeking to employ a leader in the field of agriculture, forestry and soils to further develop our offer in this area and provide inputs to a wide range of projects. You will be part of the Environment and Sustainability (E&S) business within Environment, Water and Energy (EWE). This new position is being driven by a growing need to support clients seeking advice on agricultural, forestry and soil-related issues as part of project delivery, for example in relation to impacts of development on agricultural land, the scope for woodland creation and enhanced woodland management and the possibility of enhancing soil carbon sequestration. Given the multi-disciplinary nature of the role, you will be expected to work collaboratively with colleagues from across E&S, EWE and the wider business. We will also be looking for you to organically grow our agriculture, forestry and soils-related service offering. We are looking for an experienced individual with a detailed understanding of agriculture, forestry and soils and an understanding of allied areas including biodiversity net gain (BNG), climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental net gain, nature-based solutions, regenerative agriculture and planning and environmental planning more generally.

As Lead for Agriculture, Forestry and Soils, your responsibilities will include:
Agricultural

+ Lead on agricultural land-related issues as part of wider projects

+ Lead Environmental Statement (ES) chapters on agriculture (and prior inputs to scoping)

+ Provide oversight of sub-consultants conducting Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) related work

+ Provide input to natural capital
- and BNG-related work

+ Contribute to work on nutrient neutrality

+ Forestry

+ Lead ES chapters on forestry (and prior inputs to scoping)

+ Provide input to natural capital
- and BNG-related work

+ Review arboriculture-related work

Soils

+ Lead ES chapters on soils (and prior inputs to scoping)

+ Contribute to work at the soils - ecology interface (e.g. soils input to Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA))

+ Provide input to natural capital
- and BNG-related work

+ Prepare soil management plans as part of project delivery

+ Provide advice/calculations in relation to soil carbon storage / sequestration as an input to projects

+ Develop soil health metrics as an input to projects

General

+ Represent clients at hearings and respond to examiners’ written questions

+ Provide input to tenders and wider business development initiatives

+ Team building over time, including building the skills base of colleagues

+ Provide thought leadership in relation to agriculture, forestry and soils to raise AECOM’s profile in this area

+ Develop your network of specialist contacts including in academia

**Qualifications**:
+ Significant experience of agriculture, forestry and soil-related work.

+ Relevant professional chartership (or being able to demonstrate that you are working towards this).

+ Planning
- or EIA-related experience that could include developments under Hybrid Bill, NSIP/DCO, Transport and Works Act Order, Town and Country Planning and/or other rele