Senior/Principal Biodiversity Specialist

Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.

Hours - Broadly 8am-5pm with a level of flexibility to start/finish times, dependant on business needs.

Package: £44,110 - £55,000 (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience)

Working pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight. We will consider flexible working requests so that your work may fit in with your lifestyle. Just let us know your preferred working pattern on your application.

Let us introduce the role:

The role will be to act as AWE's Subject Matter Expert for biodiversity, providing timely expert advice and guidance to a wide range of activities, varying from major new capital builds, demolition, experimental trials, estate management and drone flights. In addition, you will be acting as the organisation's lead for the theme of Enhancing Biodiversity under our Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

You will own and oversee delivery of our Nature Recovery Plan, shaping how we respond to the biodiversity crisis for decades to come.

You will be acting with a high level of independence, identifying compliance issues, improvement activities and representing the AWE at a range of events with external stakeholders. You will also be presenting information to range of internal stakeholders, from the executive board to workers on construction sites.

Duties will include:

• Produce documentation in support of the Environmental Management System (EMS), as appropriate, assuring that legislation and other external requirements are incorporated into the organisation's management arrangements.
• Oversee or implement improvement activities that form part of for the theme of 'Enhancing Biodiversity' as part of AWE's Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

Key Accountabilities:

• Produce documentation in support of the Environmental Management System (EMS), as appropriate, assuring that legislation and other external requirements are incorporated into the organisation's management arrangements.
• Oversee or implement improvement activities that form part of for the theme of 'Enhancing Biodiversity' as part of AWE's Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Providing advice and guidance to the organisation on a broad range of biodiversity issues.
• Reviewing and/or undertaking ecological surveys of species of conservation concern, PEAs and EcIAs.
• Acting as an Intelligent Customer for ecological surveys undertaken by external contract support.
• Own and oversee delivery the organisation's Nature Recovery Plan, including setting annual targets for the sustainability programme and measuring performance against as part of governance.
• Gaining statutory approvals for activities that impact on designated sites e.g. SSSI, SPA, SAC, RAMSAR.
• Contributing to Planning Applications and Environmental Impact Assessments.
• Liaising with external stakeholders e.g. Historic England, West Berkshire Council, Natural England, MOD.
• Representing AWE at external forums such as the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and the UK Nuclear Ecology Peer Group.
• Providing training to staff and contractors on ecological and arboricultural legislation and issues.
• Presenting information on the wildlife and heritage of AWE sites at exhibitions and public open days.
• Providing material for external media outlets, for example the MOD conservation magazine 'Sanctuary' and for AWE communication platforms.
• Support the evaluation of compliance process, including but not limited to inspections, audits, and investigations. Providing 2nd line of defence oversight for implementing the BNG Strategy, including tracking project compliance.

Whilst not to be considered a check list, candidates should be able to demonstrate some of the following:

• Ideally candidates will already have extensive knowledge and experience of ecological assessment and survey methodologies e.g. Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA).
• Degree in an ecological or environmental based subject or vocational qualification (HND or equivalent) and/or commensurate practical experience.
• Experience of working with protected species (for example, bats and great crested newts), and ideally with one or more protected species licences (or able to demonstrate they are working towards this).
• A good understanding of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) including the Statutory Biodiversity Metric Calculation Tool, Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans and Biodiversity Gain Plans.
• A good understanding of ecological and heritage requirements within the planning process.
• Willing to occasionally work unsocial hours to undertake or support ecological surveys.
• Knowledge and/or experience of Environmental Management Systems and ISO 14001
• Detailed understanding of current environmental legislation, standards and guidance relevant to role.
• An understanding of Natural Capital approaches
• Full Member, or working towards this, of a relevant professional institute (for example, CIEEM) and willingness to undertake necessary training and update knowledge as and when required including CPD.
• All candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role and be willing and able to work in designated areas.

Desired skills; or willing to develop:

• Act as AWE's Subject Matter Expert for heritage, providing advice and guidance to the organisation on a broad range of heritage issues.
• Reviewing and/or undertaking Heritage Building Records and archaeological Desk Based Assessments undertaken by external contract support.

• Acting as Intelligent Customer for activities that impact upon heritage receptors undertaken by external contract support.
• Providing training to staff and contractors on heritage legislation and issues.

Some reasons we think you'll love it here:

AWE has wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• 9-day working fortnight - meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

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