The Vacancy
ADAS, part of the RSK Group is seeking to employ an Agricultural Climate and Sustainability Consultant, on a full-time permanent basis, with hybrid home and office working available out of the ADAS Boxworth office near Cambridge.
This is an exciting opportunity to work on one of humanity’s most pressing challenges: how do we produce safe, nutritious food in a sustainable and profitable way while adapting to climate change. Consultants will have the chance to work across all aspects of agricultural systems on a wide range of topics.
As an agricultural climate and sustainability consultant you will work with a range of clients from government and the food supply chain to support in the decarbonisation of food production, whilst increasing overall environmental sustainability and maintaining productive profitable agricultural systems. You will be involved in modelling agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water-use efficiency, Identifying opportunities to benefit nature, developing environmental mitigation strategies, assessing climate risks and vulnerabilities and other aspects to support the environmental sustainability and resilience of food production in the UK.
Suitable candidates will be required to deliver consultancy solutions to a range of different clients from both public and private sectors. The focus is on desk-based modelling and reporting, working with farmers, advisers, supply chain actors and government. The role requires practical problem solving skills and the ability to communicate well with a range of stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
1. Develop tools to collect, analyse and interpret farm and supply chain data to support reporting into baseline GHG emission assessments (aligned to GHG Protocol standards, Science Based Targets) and other sustainability assessments (water, nature, resilience).
2. Provide consultancy input into projects linked to climate resilience, adaptation and mitigation within agriculture.
3. Draft reports that are compliant with industry standards and client requirements.
4. Manage small projects to deliver on time and within budget.
5. Support senior staff in drafting tenders and proposals as required.
Person Specification
6. Relevant post graduate experience in UK agricultural or food production systems, or delivering consultancy linked to UK agricultural production (arable and/or livestock).
7. Degree or relevant vocational qualification in a relevant subject such as Agriculture, Biology, Geography or Environmental Science.
8. Understanding or experience working with farm-level carbon accounting, or industry frameworks such as TCFD or TNFD would be an advantage.
9. Competent user of Microsoft Software, including Windows OS, TEAMS, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
10. Understanding of advanced data science modelling would be an advantage, such as familiarity with coding in Excel VBA, R, or Python.
11. Fluency in English to communicate in a clear and concise manner, both through written (email, reports) and verbal applications.
12. Have a full UK driving licence and own transport (the Boxworth office has limited public transport access).
Salary and Benefits
13. Salary up to £35,000 per annum, negotiable depending on experience.
14. On the job training and mentoring will be provided, alongside industry relevant qualifications.
15. Contributory Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
16. We encourage Continuing Professional Development and support Chartership to relevant professional bodies.
17. Encouragement to participate in and lead relevant professional committees.
18. Allowance for membership to one professional body.
19. Flexible benefits programme with the option to buy additional holidays and private health care.
20. Volunteer days allowing staff to support local good causes and environmental activities
21. RSK EV scheme, cycle to work scheme and other benefits
Interview process
Those candidates that pass the initial sift will be invited to interview – ideally face to face, in Boxworth Cambridge. For the interview, the candidate will be required to complete three exercises in advance: a short timed written report; a timed data handling task; and the preparation of a presentation for delivery in the interview. Each interview will last up to one hour with a panel of 2-3 assessors.