Biodiversity Technical Specialist

We operate broad pay scales for all our roles to enable us to fulfil our commitments to inclusivity and career development. Final package is dependent on individual knowledge, skills and experience. In addition, we offer a range of competitive benefits - check them out in the **Benefits section** on our website.
HS2 Ltd endeavours to ensure everyone working for us and with us feels included, thrives and achieves their full potential. In practice, this means we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, encouraging our staff networks to flourish and providing personal and professional development opportunities.
**Interested in transforming UK Rail? We’re looking for a Biodiversity Technical Specialist to assist in developing and overseeing the delivery of our biodiversity commitments.**
**Do you have experience of leading or reviewing Ecological Impact Assessments and engaging with environmental stakeholders on complex schemes? Would you like to** contribute to** ensur**ing** HS2** embeds biodiversity gains into its design**? This is a great opportunity to join our growing Environment team as the project progresses and as we bring innovative technology to the UK railway and support delivery of this transformational project.**
**At HS2, we’re leaving a legacy for future infrastructure projects. Delivering HS2 will enable the shift from road and air to rail, improving the quality of the air we breathe and supporting the transition to a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.**
**Come and join us on our journey**
As a Biodiversity Technical Specialist at HS2 you will develop the technical quality, specifications, standards and assurance for the ecology and biodiversity aspects of the HS2 programme.
**About the role**:

- Work within the Biodiversity Team to assist in developing and overseeing the delivery of the biodiversity agenda (and related policies/plans) for HS2 in keeping with programme needs, statutory requirements and broader external requirements in order to deliver on biodiversity commitments, including finalising and overviewing Corporate, Phase specific biodiversity proposals and plans.
- Prepare and review draft material for the HS2 programme in the lead-up to construction to ensure the HS2 programme designs in and mitigates its impact on receptors specifically with regard to biodiversity.
- Deliver high quality technical support and advice to the project in order to ensure the best possible outcomes from a biodiversity perspective and ensure compliance with HS2 agreed standards and legislation (e.g. organisational protected species licences).
- Manage outputs and monitor allocated budgets.
- Provide information to key persons in agencies (e.g. DfT, DEFRA, Natural England and Forestry Commission) as well as deal with FOI and media requests on biodiversity issues to ensure HS2 plans can be implemented effectively.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of the external communication plan regarding biodiversity goals and progress.
- Coach, up skill and influence colleagues from across the organisation (and into the wider supply chain) to ensure biodiversity issues are key considerations in project decision making and management processes.
- Liaise closely with specialists in other related disciplines, in particular those within the wider Natural Environment Team including water and landscape.
- Actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.

**Qualifications**:
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About You: *
- Knowledge of biodiversity/ecology related policy, legislation, industry standards and best practice.
- Knowledge of ecological surveys and land restoration, landscape planting, habitat creation and translocation
- Experience of engaging with environmental stakeholders
- Experience in a lead or review role in ecological impact assessment and environmental statements
- Experience of writing/submitting/holding protected complex species licences
- Experience of managing environmental projects on complex schemes
The post-holder is expected to behave at all times in a manner consistent with the HS2 values of Safety, Leadership, Integrity and Respect
It is expected that you will actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.
**About Us**:
High Speed 2 (HS2 Ltd) will be the UK’s new high speed rail network. As well as improving capacity, the new scheme will shorten journey times between a number of Britain’s major population centres, boost the economy and create thousands of jobs.
HS2 Ltd will create a skills legacy and develop a diverse range of talent. We aim to be a leader in EDI practice by creating a safe & inclusive working environment for all our staff - living our values of Safety, Respect, Integrity and Leadership.
HS2 Ltd is a