Strategic Ecologist

LUC seeks a Senior or Principal Ecologist in Manchester to enhance nature recovery efforts in the UK. The role involves managing ecological assessments, developing innovative methodologies, and collaborating on landscape-scale projects for various clients. Candidates should have a strong ecology background and a strategic mindset. While the position is primarily based in Manchester, flexible working options are available. Salary ranges from £32,500 to £46,000 FTE.
About the role:

LUC is actively contributing to nature recovery in the UK. And it’s never felt so vital. As a consultant to a range of government, LPA, charitable Trusts and private clients, our Strategic Ecology team is at the centre of this important work, creating a bridge between our ecology, landscape and planning disciplines.

Our clients understand the importance of considering ecological opportunities from the outset of their strategic landscape-scale or policy projects, hence; demand for our support has increased. We’re seeking to appoint a Senior or Principal Ecologist with a strategic mindset to further develop and support our committed team. Based within, and supported by, our existing Strategic Ecology team, the successful candidate will have an established background in ecology, be highly collaborative with a positive outlook to work across the practice and bring their ecological knowledge to strategic projects.

Our Strategic Ecology team frequently collaborates with our planning and landscape management colleagues on the delivery of truly integrated, landscape-scale assessments, strategies and supporting management plans for a range of public, private and third sector clients. Current examples include the preparation of Local Nature Recovery Strategies, Local Wildlife Site Reviews, Nature Recovery and Biodiversity Action Plans, Landscape Recovery Monitoring, Green Infrastructure Studies, policy reviews including Protected Site Strategies and biodiversity more broadly, Strategic BNG Studies and support to Green Finance Studies. Consultation and collaborative working with other technical disciplines form a common thread through all.

Our work is varied and collectively the team holds a broad range of skills. If some of the ‘experience and qualifications’ listed below resonate with your skills and passion, we’d love to hear from you.

Reporting to our Strategic Ecology lead, the role will include:
• Management and delivery of ecological evidence-base assessments to achieve nature recovery within land use planning at a range of spatial scales.
• Developing innovative project methodologies founded in strong science in response to land planning and management challenges.
• Applying ecological knowledge to challenges for climate change resilience as well as wider ecosystem services.
• Management of projects – both field and office elements – to meet our highest quality standards.
• Contribute to project-specific consultation and engagement with technical stakeholders.
• Supporting growth for you and the team through new project opportunities and innovation.
• Mentoring of colleagues, including contribution to training initiatives.

The role includes the opportunity to share and participate actively in the management and ownership of the business through the Employee Ownership Trust, which places full ownership of the company with the employees.

This role is strongly preferred to be met in Manchester but will be considered in any of our English offices.

A full-time role is based on 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday). However, LUC has a strong track record in flexible working. We have been recognised for our working culture, so we are happy to discuss a range of flexible working options for this role, including part time hours (minimum 30 hours per week) if desired.

Salary range: £32,500 – £46,000 FTE, depending on experience (excluding London Allowance).

About you:

The role will allow you to join LUC as we continue to raise our game in addressing the delivery of nature recovery and climate change resilience through our exciting project work. The successful candidate will complement our existing enthusiastic and dedicated ecology team. You will share our commitment to high quality science and be motivated to help develop our staff and our business, as an equal partner.

Applicants from a range of relevant backgrounds are welcome across public, private and third sectors. Relevant experience (see ‘About the role’) is necessary but we understand that this may be found working within teams developing nature or landscape recovery strategy and action plans, habitat management and biodiversity monitoring, Local Plan evidence, and so forth. In this role you will expect to develop your career through actively contributing to LUC’s award-winning portfolio with diverse and challenging projects.

Experience and Qualifications

Essential
• Strong understanding of the challenges facing nature recovery in the UK.
• Strong working knowledge of UK ecology (generalist or specialist).
• Working knowledge of relevant emerging policy and legislation (local / regional application included).
• Proven project management skills.
• Appropriate professional qualification at a relevant level.

Desirable
• Experience in the development and/or delivery of strategy and action plans for nature or landscape recovery (range of scales may apply).
• Experience in the design and/or delivery of habitat or broader land management plans (range of scales may apply).
• Experience in the application of biodiversity and/or environmental metrics – this includes strategic landscape scale application as well as site-specific metrics.
• Understanding of the application of green finance more broadly.
• Demonstrable knowledge of ecosystem services and/or natural capital (generalist or specialist).
• Familiarity with the use of strategic datasets.
• Experience of stakeholder engagement and collaborative problem-solving.
• Demonstrable work-winning and business development skills.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

Please apply by uploading your CV and covering letter via the link above

LUC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. We value the differences, needs and contributions a diverse workforce represents, and we strive to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all our people related activities.