Principal Ecologist

Our people tell us Wessex Water is a great place to work, and they stay with us! We are proud of how we support development and career progression. We continue to promote diversity and inclusion. With that in mind, we welcome all applicants.

We have an exciting new vacancy for a Principal Ecologist to join our Environment and Planning Services team.

If you are looking for a role that has a focus on our local environment, and love engaging with equally passionate people, then we want to hear from you!

You will be encouraged to have a voice, be free-thinking and empowered, whilst working in a high-performing team, and have a genuine opportunity to make an impact.

Although based in Bath, this role will require you to travel throughout the Wessex Water region on a regular basis. We also offer flexible working, allowing you to work from home some of the time, if preferred, as well as in our office.

What You'll Do

Our in-house Ecology Team provides a wide range of services to facilitate project delivery for engineering, construction, and operational projects.

The Ecology Team support a diverse range of projects and enjoy the satisfaction of working on and influencing their projects from outline design through to completion.

Supporting our agreed rolling 5-year programmes of work - all within the Wessex Water region - and working closely with our in-house design teams, our ecologists spend most of their time doing the ecology work they love and enjoy an excellent work / life balance. Supporting fee proposals is not a feature of this role.

As a Principal Ecologist, you will manage a small team of ecologists (ecologists and assistant ecologists), as well as working with other ecologists across the team, to support the delivery of a wide range of projects. In addition, you will manage your own portfolio of projects as well as providing ecological advice to engineering, construction and operational staff to ensure Wessex Water meets current legislation and company environmental policy in the development and maintenance of our assets.

What You'll Need

You will have academic qualifications in ecology or a similar related subject and typically have approximately 10 years' relevant experience.

You will:

• have experience of managing other ecologists
• be able to provide technical advice to the Ecology Delivery Manager and Environment, Planning Services Manager, as well as providing other technical management support across the business
• be competent in UKHab and protected species appraisal surveys and be able to lead others in making these assessments
• be competent at working with key groups of protected species (great crested newts, badgers, bats, reptiles, water voles etc.), with a high-level proficiency within one or more species groups
• have one or more protected species and mitigation licences
• have excellent ecological report writing skills including Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA) and Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA); and be able to mentor the preparation and checking of reports written by other members of the team
• have a good understanding of UK planning process and legal framework
• be competent in the use and implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain
• hold a clean driving licence and have access to own transport
• take a pro-active and flexible approach with a focus on successful project delivery
• have good IT and organisational skills including GIS systems (ArcGIS).

It would also be advantageous if you:

• have experience of landscape design and planting
• have experience of working on construction sites.

Due to the nature of traveling around the Wessex Water region, which in some cases can be very rural, a full clean driving licence is essential. This role includes a car allowance.

What you'll receive

• A combined pension contribution of up to 20%.
• Career progression and professional development opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service.
• The opportunity to sell up to five days of holiday every year.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days of holiday each year (subject to conditions).
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• The opportunity to lease a new electric car through salary sacrifice (subject to conditions).
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• Access to an interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from trained mental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone who is successfully recruited by us.

Who we are

YTL UK is part of the international YTL Group based in Kuala Lumpur. The UK companies include:

• Wessex Water - one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9 million people across the South West
• YTL Developments - a major UK developer currently redeveloping a 450-acre former airfield into an award-winning, exciting mix of houses, apartments, schools, commercial space, restaurants and hotels, to make a truly sustainable new community
• YTL Construction UK - a top 20 UK contractor providing fully integrated services to infrastructure, residential, commercial, industry, energy and environmental sectors
• YTL Live - the development and operation of an entertainment complex that includes a 20,000 capacity arena, conferencing and exhibition space
• plus a number of other retail, environmental and specialist businesses.

Our people tell us that YTL UK is a great place to work, which is why so many of them stay with us! You will have a unique opportunity to develop and progress your career within such a diverse group.

We are passionate about diversity and inclusion - with that in mind, all applicants are welcome. We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer.

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please inform a member of our Recruitment team.