What your new role will entail;

The Principal Biodiversity Net Gain Specialist will lead and deliver biodiversity net gain (BNG) assessments for infrastructure and development projects across the UK. This role requires a deep understanding of blue and green infrastructure (GI), ecosystem services, and natural capital. The specialist will play a crucial part in ensuring that development projects contribute positively to biodiversity, enhancing natural environments while complying with UK planning policies and legislation.

Key Accountabilities

• Strategic Leadership: Provide strategic direction and leadership for biodiversity net gain initiatives, ensuring alignment with national and local planning policies and legislation. Working closely with the BNG lead to continue to develop the BNG Vision and Strategy for AECOM and work closely with our ecologists to ensure survey standards are maintained
• Project Delivery: Lead multidisciplinary project teams to deliver high-quality biodiversity inputs and assessments for infrastructure and development projects, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Technical Expertise: Serve as the technical authority on BNG, green infrastructure, ecosystem services, and natural capital, providing expert advice and solutions to clients and project teams.
• Quality Assurance: Oversee the checking and approval of proposals, reports, and assessments, ensuring compliance with quality assurance protocols and standards.
• Client Engagement: Engage and communicate effectively with clients, stakeholders, and project teams to promote the benefits and importance of biodiversity, green infrastructure, and ecosystem services.
• Mentorship and Development: Manage and mentor junior staff, fostering their technical and professional growth within the field of biodiversity and environmental management.
• Data Management: Lead the electronic capture, analysis, and presentation of biodiversity data, ensuring accuracy and relevance for project requirements.
• Environmental Advocacy: Advocate for and implement best practices in biodiversity and natural capital within project designs to achieve positive environmental outcomes.

Being part of the team;

We offer a flexible hybrid working model. As a member of our team, you will enjoy a comprehensive benefits package with a range of flexible choices covering health, finance, lifestyle, well-being and more.

At AECOM, our commitment to shaping a sustainable future is embodied in the Environment & Sustainability Business in one of the Top Environmental Consultancies. This seamlessly integrates Planning & Communities, Carbon & Advisory, and Nature that collectively deliver sustainable solutions for our clients, promoting social and environmental benefit.

Our Nature team encompasses two Practices — Ecology and Natural Capital — which together comprise experts spread across multiple offices, who form a synergistic alliance dedicated to pioneering innovative solutions to support an environmental carbon and nature positive future. From large-scale ecological survey programmes to integrating nature into decision-making and investment planning, our team champions nature-based solutions.

With a wealth of experience, knowledge, and specialist skill sets, our Ecology team consisting of 150 professional experts includes national and global leaders located across the UK and Republic of Ireland, from species licence holders to experts in impact assessment, habitat creation, ecosystem restoration, enhancement, and management. Our Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) professionals not only influence policy and guidance but steer practical and collaborative design decisions that promote positive outcomes.

Our award-winning Ecology Team were Highly Commended in CIEEM’s 2023 Large Consultancy of the Year, and our work at Abberton Reservoir for Essex & Suffolk Water won both a Green Apple Environment Award and CIEEM's NGO Impact Award for Impact on Nature and Society.  Now is the time to join!