Ecologist | Bath

We have an exciting opening for an Ecologist to join our Environmental and Planning Services team on a fixed 14-month contract to provide maternity cover from 16 January 2023. If you have experience working as an Ecologist and are looking to further develop your career within the water industry, then this will be a great opportunity for you!

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.

The role

Our Environment and Planning Services team, which includes the Ecology Team, provides a wide range of environmental support to our engineering and construction colleagues to facilitate the delivery of our capital programme.

Our Ecologists deliver a range of services, including ecological survey, ecological impact assessment and protected species work, through to mitigation and construction support.

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 the majority of their working time doing the ecology work they love and enjoy a good work / life balance. Long distance travel and supporting fee proposals is not a feature of this role.

As the Ecologist, you will undertake ecological assessments of capital programme schemes. You will also provide ecological advice to engineering, construction and operational staff to ensure Wessex Water meets current legislation and company environmental policy in the development of assets.

What do I need?

To be considered for this exciting opportunity you will have recent experience working in a similar project delivery focussed role.

Additionally, you will:

• be competent in Phase 1 / UKHabs and protected species appraisal surveys
• have a practical and pragmatic understanding of habitat and protected species mitigation
• have good ecological report writing skills
• have an understanding of the UK planning process and legal framework
• have experience working proactively with engineering teams throughout design and construction
• have a proactive and flexible approach with a focus on successful project delivery
• have good IT skills and experience of GIS systems (ArcGIS).

It would be advantageous if you:

• hold one or more protected species survey licences (great crested newt, bats)
• have experience and preferably hold one or more protected species mitigation licences (great crested newts, badgers, water voles or bats)
• have experience in writing ecological impact assessments and habitat regulations assessments.

Due to the nature of travelling around the Wessex Water region, which in some cases can be very rural, so a full clean driving licence and access to own transport is essential.

Benefits for you

• Pension – up to 20% combined contribution
• 25 days’ holiday
• Opportunity to buy and sell up to five days’ holiday
• Life assurance (four times your salary)
• Flexible working
• Cashback and discounts from over 1,200 retailers
• Paid volunteering day
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Health and wellbeing programme
• Support from mental health first aiders

What will you get from us?

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 have a wealth of both financial and non-financial benefits to offer our people and are committed to ensuring we provide an environment that supports health and wellbeing and flexible working.

We continue to promote diversity and inclusion. With that in mind, we welcome all applicants.

We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer. Applicants who declare they have a disability or have previously served with the Armed Forces, and meet the minimum requirements for the job, will automatically be invited for an interview.

Please let us know if you require any additional support or adjustments to assist you in starting your journey with Wessex Water.

If you have what it takes to join this award-winning business and want to be part of our exciting journey and share in that success, then please get in contact with us to find out more.

Sound interesting? Please click APPLY to progress to the next step.

• CLOSING DATE | 14/11/22
• REFERENCE | REQ004816
• DEPARTMENT | Engineering and Sustainable Delivery
• LOCATION | Bath
• STARTING SALARY| GBP 25,000 to GBP 35,000 dependent on experience
• CATEGORY | Fixed term
• PACKAGE | 40 hours per week, pension scheme up to 20% combined contribution, 25 days annual leave, rising to a maximum of 28 days with 5 years’ service.