Senior Biodiversity Specialist

To support Alcazar Energy Technical Services and cross-functional teams by leading and coordinating biodiversity and ecosystem-related assessments and requirements across portfolio of renewable energy projects across the MENA region, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia to ensure compliance with international standards of best practice.

The role entails conducting and/or leading a variety of environmental and social (E&S) studies and assessments, from in-house due diligence exercises and biodiversity risk screenings, external and internal E&S due diligence exercises, baseline studies, external environmental and social impact assessments, management and monitoring plans and active implementation and oversight during development, execution and operational phases of the projects.

The Senior Biodiversity Specialist will also support the integration of biodiversity considerations into corporate and project-level Environmental and Social Management Systems (ESMS), including alignment with IFC Performance Standard 6, EBRD Environmental & Social requirements 6, EIB E&S Standards, EU Directives (where applicable), EU Taxonomy and potential emerging frameworks such as TNFD as required.

Biodiversity & Ecology Studies, Critical Habitat and Species Assessments

• Conduct environmental screening assessments of potential investment opportunities at origination stage
• Lead biodiversity sections of the E&S due diligence assessments, both internally and coordinating third party assessments by E&S consultants of potential investment opportunities at early development stage
• Support in the interface with Lenders E&S teams and Lenders E&S advisor.
• Lead and coordinate biodiversity, avifauna, and bat baseline studies for projects in portfolio.
• Manage and review vista point, acoustic, and seasonal survey programs.
• Support collision risk assessments (CRA) and migratory corridor assessments.
• Support Critical Habitat Assessments and protected area screening in line with IFC PS6, EBRD ES6 and EIB Standards.
• Review biodiversity and ornithology inputs to ESIA and related technical studies.

Biodiversity Risk Management Across Project Planning & Operations

• Provide early environmental support with planning and relevant consent applications.
• Integrate biodiversity, bird, and bat considerations into project siting, layout, and design.
• Apply the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, minimize, restore, offset) to project impacts.
• Develop and oversee species protection and mitigation measures, including turbine micro-siting, seasonal restrictions, and curtailment strategies
• Oversee and monitor environmental and biodiversity performance of Turbine Supplier, Balance of Plant (BoP) and/or EPC and O&M contractor through site inspections, progress meetings, review of documentation and performance indicators for Projects under construction and operation.
• Work closely with internal (E&S, technical, investments, contracts, legal) teams & external stakeholders to identify and address biodiversity risks.
• Support biodiversity risk management during construction and operation phases.
• Communicate project requirements, environmental & biodiversity procedures and standards to relevant parties and oversee its implementation
• Provide technical guidance to contractors and O&M teams on biodiversity requirements.

Biodiversity Management Systems, Compliance, Monitoring & Reporting

• Support in the development and implementation of the corporate ESMS ensuring the adequate cascading to cross all AE portfolio of projects at all stages
• Oversee and support in the development of Project-specific ESMS to ensure alignment with ESIA, ESAP, Employer requirements, Investors and Lenders’ requirements
• Develop and oversee implementation of Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs) and Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) across all assets as applicable
• Support lender and investor biodiversity due diligence, monitoring, and audits.
• Prepare and implement Avifauna and Bat Management Plans, including post-construction monitoring, turbine shutdown programs, fatality searches and adaptive management
• Support habitat restoration, enhancement, and biodiversity offset measures where required.
• Monitor…