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At Mace, our purpose is to redefine the boundaries of ambition. We believe in creating places that are responsible, bringing transformative impact to our people, communities and societies across the globe. To learn more about our purpose, culture, and priorities, visit our strategy site.
Within our consult business, we harness our unique combination of leading-edge practical expertise and project delivery consultancy to unlock the potential in every project.
The project\:
We are a purpose-led organisation that places diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do. Our responsible business practice group comprising 170+ people bring themselves to work each day to make a difference; to create a low carbon resilient world, shaping cities and building thriving communities, and helping our clients to realise their ambitions.
This is an exciting opportunity for a recently qualified assistant ecologist who wants to assist on biodiversity net gain (BNG) to join Mace’s responsible business team and support our growing biodiversity team in leading BNG and sustainable development on key consultancy projects across all sectors so our clients can achieve their BNG targets. You will support innovative and technically challenging low carbon projects, working with sustainable and pioneering clients looking to deliver at least +10% biodiversity net gain, technical ecology advice, nature-based solutions for climate change, and BREEAM outstanding on projects.
This position is ideal for an individual with a good understanding of ecology, BNG delivery and management, and a basic knowledge of sustainability aligned with current and future trends in the built environment. We want the candidate to inspire, challenge, guide and help us to deliver our sector-leading sustainability targets outlined in our 2026 business priority, Pursue a Sustainable World.
Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey, they are:
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Safety first - Going home safe and well.
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Client focus - Deliver on our promise.
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Integrity - Always do the right thing.
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Create opportunity - For our people to excel.
Responsible for providing support to client-facing consultancy services including informal guidance and support for the co-ordination of various climate change, sustainability and/or social value related activities on projects and/ or programmes. Supports the teams with the achievement of Mace’s wider corporate ambitions and organisational objectives and targets to reduce client carbon emissions and deliveries.
You’ll be responsible for:
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Assist in carrying out extended Phase 1 habitat/ UKHab surveys on sites, and BREEAM reports for key clients including the Department for Education (DfE) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) – excluding Phase 2 ecology surveys.
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Preparation of management plans and documents required to secure projects.
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Participate in early design layout workshops with design teams, learning application of the mitigation hierarchy principles so biodiversity is considered early in site layout development.
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Supporting Mace biodiversity team with the commissioning of ecology surveys, including preparing technical scopes for sub-consultants and developing strong working relationships with them.
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Engage in liaison with various stakeholders including developers, local authorities, landowners, environmental NGOs.
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Contribute to Defra biodiversity net gain assessments, including use of biodiversity metrics, design, and delivery of net gain solutions.
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GIS Mapping
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Writing and carrying out initial assurance reviews of ecology reports such as Phase 2 ecological surveys, habitat/landscape management plans, construction environmental management plans etc.
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Working with construct project teams to deliver best practice in terms of protecting and enhancing ecology and supporting them with specific ecology queries – translating technical requirements into layperson language to ensure all stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities.
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Supporting work-winning through bids, solutioning, client liaison and raising Mace’s profile externally. This will include the development of Mace’s service offers around natural capital reporting and nature-based solutions.
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Supports the development of client climate change, sustainability and/or social value strategies on individual projects, including agreeing project outcomes and ensuring their delivery by the project team.
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Becomes a technical expert and promote innovation in a particular area of sustainability, such as waste, energy/carbon, water, responsible sourcing of materials sustainable buildings, etc.
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Provides pro-active generalist, able to cover all major issues of sustainability with all relevant stakeholders.
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Supports work winning through bid support, innovation, and client liaison.
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Supports the drive for Mace to be a leader in climate change and sustainability.
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Provides knowledge of sustainable building design, including embodied and operational carbon and energy reduction, in new build and refurbishment projects, including programme, cost, and operational impacts of NZC strategies.
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Supports design teams to understand and respond to environmental constraints and opportunities to maximise positive environmental benefits.
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Develops innovation and best practice, including clearly communicating these to the wider business and our clients.
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Supports the be able to translate best EMS practices from one area to another. This includes analysing reporting needs to simplify the process.
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Provides support on bid support work winning/bidding.
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Establishes and maintain positive working relationships with client and stakeholders including design team members, contractors, sub-contractors, and regulators.
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Works collaboratively towards the common goal of net zero carbon transition and share responsibility for the proactive identification and management of the associated carbon emissions and reductions during the delivery of work.
You’ll need to have:
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You would be a practising ecologist, with a minimum of one to two years relevant experience (within the last five years).
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Your experience should be able to demonstrate a practical understanding of factors affecting ecology in relation to construction and the built environment, including acting in an advisory capacity to provide recommendations for ecological protection, enhancement, and mitigation measures. Examples of relevant experience would include exposure to carrying out ecological impact assessments, preliminary ecological appraisals (PEA), introductions in the field for Phase 2 habitat and fauna surveys including reports, habitat design and/or creation.
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A willingness, appetite, and enthusiasm for new challenges.
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An appetite for driving continual technical development and innovation within our biodiversity team.
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Possessing a suitable academic credential in an ecological field and holding (or working toward) membership with the chartered institute of ecology and environmental management at a qualifying level (with available mentorship for advancement to full membership) is essential.
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Experience and understanding of\: UKHab habitat types and terminology; use of metrics to undertake biodiversity net gain assessment. GIS proficient (ArcGIS or QGIS)
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Full UK driving license
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Any stakeholder engagement with the regulator, local authorities, and wildlife groups.
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Experience in the following would also be beneficial\: authoring ecological reports, developing proposals with nature-based solutions.
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UK-wide experience (also covering Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland)
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Knowledge of relevant UK wildlife legislation and ecological survey methodologies.
You’ll also have:
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Relevant tertiary qualification (post graduate degree, Etc.) (or equivalent). master’s degree (or equivalent).
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Expertise in one or more sustainability topics (waste, water, energy, carbon, responsible sourcing, building design, biodiversity, etc).
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Ability to translate technical topics into laypersons language and articulate the value of sustainability.
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Champions sustainability and be a leader, encouraging behavioural change throughout the business.
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Expertise in relevant industry, sector, region, etc.
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Suitable professional membership/s (i.e. IEMA, ICRS, CIEMA, ICE, RICS) (or equivalent).
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Develops innovation and best practice, including clearly communicating these to the wider business and our clients.
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Be able to translate best EMS practices from one area to another. This includes analysing reporting needs to simplify the process.
Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation.
We are also open to discussing part-time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable within the role.
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