Working here isn't just a job. You can advance your career at Avove, and we'll reward you with a range of benefits that recognise great work. We provide full training and continuous development to help you reach your potential. We strive to create an inclusive working environment where everyone can be themselves. Join us and take the next step towards a fulfilling career.
We understand the impact our work has on our society and the environment. It's the difference we make that improves people's lives and helps the economy to grow. We work alongside our customers to deliver resilient, bespoke infrastructure solutions that keep the taps running, the energy flowing and people connected. The work we do together matters.
About the role
In this role, you will provide expert ecological support across projects, ensuring compliance with legislation and industry best practice. You will lead and review ecological surveys, deliverables, and mitigation strategies, while offering technical guidance to both clients and colleagues. A key part of the role involves developing and mentoring the ecological team, coordinating internal and external resources, and building strong relationships with stakeholders. You will advise on ecological risks and constraints throughout project lifecycles, contribute to bids and project planning, and liaise with regulatory bodies where required. This position combines hands-on ecological expertise with leadership, assurance, and collaboration to strengthen ecological capability within the business and deliver sustainable project outcomes.
What will your day look like
* Advise on potential ecological constraints during all aspects of projects.
* Provide guidance on best methods and practice meeting technical and project requirements.
* Attend site walkovers to inform design and future ecological deliverables required.
* Keep up to date with industry best practice and, when necessary, brief junior ecological staff
* Input into, review and approve ecological assessments of proposed works.
* Complete higher risk ecological surveys to inform required mitigation.
* Source and coordinate outsourced ecological deliverables with vendors as need.
* Provide advice and guidance on addressing ecological constraints present.
* Input into fee development and bidding from an ecological perspective.
* Advise on future ecological recruitment requirements and applicants.
* Liaise with clients on ecological technical matters.
* Support the development of ecological team and facilitate their continued progress regarding gaining licensing.
* Provide ecological support to individual projects.
* Assist in the establishment and development of ecological capabilities within the business.
* Complete more complex ecological surveys.
* Support ecologists completing ecological surveys.
* Review and approve ecological deliverables.
* Support the development of the ecological team members.
* Provide a point of contact for guidance and advice on ecological matters.
* Provide technically sound solutions, ensure compliance with relevant standards and directly support design and construction.
* Assist projects in meeting ecological legislation.
* Provide ecological support for licensable activities e.g. GCN translocation/mitigation.
* Apply for mitigation licensing where appropriate.
* Liaise with Natural England where required for species related matters
About you
* Ecological knowledge and experience.
* Knowledge of utilities-based work.
* Experience working in a multi-disciplinary environment.
* Experience in the UK ecological consultancy market, with a strong external-facing, client-orientated approach.
* Experience in field surveys including Phase 1 habitat survey, UK Habitat assessment, BNG condition assessment and protected species surveys.
* Experienced in Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
* Experience in protected species licensing.
* Experience in leading on ecological inputs into large-scale projects.
* Experience training ecologists.
* Full membership/chartership to a relevant professional body e.g. CIEEM
* Out of the box thinking.
* Pragmatic approach.
* Sound knowledge of processes and technical standards within ecology.
* Knowledge of H&S legislation and regulations.
What's in it for you
We offer a rewarding salary that is tailored to your skills and experience. But that's not all! We celebrate hard work and give recognition to our colleagues. In addition to this, we understand that one size doesn't fit all so everyone has access to a variety of flexible benefits that work for you.
* Company pension scheme
* Life assurance
* Family friendly policies
* A selection of lifestyle benefit options
* Financial wellbeing programme
* Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing and onsite mental health first aiders to support our colleagues.
We love to give back so we offer you volunteering days in your community and charity matched giving where we will boost your fundraising.
Rewards initiative for achieving recognised professional qualifications.
About us
We design, build and maintain the UK's utilities infrastructure to help transform local communities for the better. We provide cutting-edge and sustainable engineering solutions and play a critical role in helping to keep the water running, the lights on and people connected.
We are an expert, responsible and agile partner, providing vital services to water and power sectors. We work closely with our clients to help protect and improve their assets, enhance customer experience and protect the natural environment. Everything we do is designed to drive continual improvement and move life forward.
We are proud to work in partnership with leading utility providers, including Severn Trent, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, Northern PowerGrid, Northumbrian Water Group, Scottish Power Energy Networks and Scottish Water
We are an equal opportunities employer
We welcome applications from candidates of all races, genders, disabilities, religions, ages and sexual orientations. We know that having a diverse workforce encourages new perspectives, inspires creativity and creates an engaging workplace and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all colleagues can thrive. When it comes to inclusion, we're making sure we keep up the progress with our Communities of Practice, who help us do just that.
What next
We encourage you to apply for this role as soon as you can. We recognise talent waits for no one, so we progress candidates individually through all stages of recruitment process.
If you have any questions, please reach out for an informal discussion.