We currently have an opportunity for a Senior Ecologist within our Clean & Catchment Strategy Team, working alongside a group focused on delivering environmental improvements for our customers.
The team help drive environmental projects from inception and justification within our business plans, through to on the ground delivery alongside internal and external partners.
Every day will be different, and while the focus of the role may mean undertaking surveys everywhere from Wharfdale to Runswick Bay, you may be helping advise on manging orchids growing on service reservoirs in Sheffield through to the impacts of abstractions on otter populations in the Yorkshire Wolds.
The team has a strong evidence-based ethic and a commitment to research, with close ongoing links with a number of universities and the opportunity to help shape our research agenda. We regularly collaborate on topics such as novel ecological monitoring (e.g eDNA) and as a team supervise several PhD and MSc students.
The company and team have a strong drive to achieving a positive working environment and the ability to shape the direction of the role will be in your hands, be it practical or strategic.
Purpose of the role
With an increase in the scale of Yorkshire Water’s commitments to helping conserve and enhance the natural environments in which we operate, we have a unique opportunity to help make a difference to Yorkshire’s wildlife and landscapes.
You will be working across the region and throughout our estate to help us understand the value that nature is providing for our operations and customers, and make sure we are investing the right amount in the right places to sustain and grow it.
You will need a strong ecological background with experience in habitat mapping and restoration, together with a passion for collaborative working with a variety of internal teams and external partners.
Your primary focus will be helping deliver our habitat mapping programme across our c. 70, 000 ha estate. This will provide the evidence base to underpin our company decisions around future conservation investment and land management, as well as helping ensure we can fulfil and exceed our biodiversity net gain commitments as a business. You will be helping ensure nature across our operations is protected and conserved and helping create new areas of high quality wildlife habitat across Yorkshire.
This AMP cycle (2020-2025) we have an exciting programme of ecological enhancements to deliver, in excess of £12m. Within this, you will be identifying key partners across the region to help us deliver our conservation commitments, help monitor outcomes, and help develop our future environmental commitments for our next cycle.
Depending on your skills and passion, there is the opportunity to become more involved in helping us achieve a net gain to biodiversity, through working closely with our construction partners and land managers.
You will be working with colleagues in our Land and Property team to help safeguard and improve the habitat value of our rural farm estate and moorland SSSI land. The role will also have a strong component of collaboration with key strategic stakeholders, particularly regulators such as the Environment Agency and Natural England, and others such as Catchment Partnerships and the regions Wildlife and Rivers Trusts.
You will help analyse and manage our spatial ecological data. You will also assist in responding to ecological queries from the wider business.
Knowledge and Skills Required
Essential:
- Ability to plan and undertake habitat mapping at a variety of spatial scales.
- Good ability to undertake surveys to nationally recognised standards (e.g NVC, UK Hab) and working knowledge of key indicator species and priority habitat types
- Experience in practical conservation management in a variety of priority habitats
- Strong ability in planning and phasing surveys, commissioning surveys and other monitoring, and data analysis and interpretation
- The ability to organise and deliver landscape scale conservation outcomes
- An enthusiasm for working in partnership with the NGO sector and other statutory bodies
- A UK Driving licence
Desirable:
- Experience in undertaking Biodiversity Net Gain condition assessments
- Competence in GIS
- Experience working in SSSI sites
- Experience in agri-environment surveys/advice
- CIEEM membership and/or a degree or postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline
- Protected species licensing
The role will be based in Bradford, however there is a network of Yorkshire Water offices across the region that can be utilised, and the nature of the role means working from site and home can be a common occurrence, and flexible working can be accommodated.
If you feel this opportunity is suitable and you match the skills required, then please apply online and complete the application process. If you could also, please upload an up to date copy of your CV outlining your relevant experience for the role.
Advert End Date: Sunday 14 June 2020
