Description:
The UK and Ireland Onshore Wind Team is looking for one experienced ecologist to join our expanding team, and support the delivery of our Biodiversity Positive Strategy. The role holder will be placed within the UK and Ireland Operations Team, but will act as an internal expert supporting the business across all levels and departments.
Responsibilities
- Providing technical advice on how Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) should be achieved throughout the Project life cycle by working hand in hand with our sustainability, development, construction and operations teams.
- Overseeing the technical inputs needed to satisfy regulatory BNG requirements (e.g. preparing the Natural England Biodiversity Metric, creating BNG Plans and liaising with regulators) as well as those needed to deliver our internal requirements.
- Preparing biodiversity budgets that are targeted and managed appropriately for each BNG project, in consultation with all relevant RWE teams, bodies, statutory consultees and partner organizations.
- Selecting, commissioning and managing contractors and the quality of their biodiversity-related services.
- Coordinating monitoring activities to demonstrate BNG and preparing progress reports.
- Identifying opportunities to continually improve biodiversity management practices and recommending actions to RWE teams on how these may be achieved.
- Liaising externally and lobbying to ensure that the emerging policies and guidance are something which RWE can usefully implement and rely upon to deliver proportionate BNG on our projects.
- Liaising with all levels of management to ensure that the UK & Ireland is properly represented within the business, both within OPEA and also at Group level.
- Engaging with industry bodies and decision-makers to remain ahead of the curve and show that we’re a responsible developer committed to BNG.
- Capitalizing on the internal and external PR opportunities arising from the above, through engagement with our Communications teams both in the UK and Ireland and also at Group level.
- Investigating the opportunity for RWE to benefit financially through the possible trading/selling of a surplus of biodiversity credits, where possible and relevant
Responsibilities
- Ecology/environmental/conservation or equivalent science-related BSc degree with relevant experience
- Proven professional experience working in the ecology sector, preferably with some experience working in the field of BNG, carrying out site surveys, and preparing/reviewing ecological reports including EIAs and HMPs
- Relevant experience with project, contract and contractor management, including both HSE and financial management
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills with both internal and external stakeholders
- Self-directing, and able to work independently to identify key priorities and to prioritize work accordingly
- Good interpersonal skills to work in a variety of settings, including on the ground with site-based work and at high-level strategic meetings