Ecology Assurance Manager

This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified ecologist experienced in delivering biodiversity net gain (BNG) to join Mace's responsible business team. You will become part of our growing nature-based solutions team, delivering BNG and sustainable development on key consultancy projects across a range of sectors. 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 their projects.

This position is ideal for an individual with a profound understanding of BNG delivery and management, and a good 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.

• Supporting the project feasibility stage with involvement in early design layout with the design teams, applying the mitigation hierarchy principles so biodiversity is considered early.
• Management of the delivery of Phase1 and UKHab surveys, species surveys, river condition assessments, preliminary ecological appraisals (PEA), ecological impact assessments (EcIA)/environmental statement and habitat regulations assessments (HRA).
• Supporting Mace colleagues with the commissioning of the above, including preparing technical scopes for sub-consultants and developing strong working relationships with them.
• Completion of the Defra's biodiversity metric.
• Supporting the landscape architects with the delivery of urban greening factor (UGF) targets.
• Preparation of biodiversity gain plans.
• Support and lead stakeholder engagement for biodiversity offsets opportunities in conjunction with delivery partners, communications teams, sponsors, local authorities, and special interest groups.
• Engagement with off-site biodiversity unit providers.
• Where required, advising on biodiversity statutory credits.
• Work collaboratively with local authorities to share knowledge on biodiversity management.
• Supporting the delivery of natural capital and ecosystem service assessments including using the environmental benefits from nature tool and supporting the development of Mace's natural capital reporting service offer.
• Supporting BREEAM assessment reporting.
• Perform GIS mapping.
• Working with landscape architects to deliver green infrastructure plans, nature-based solutions and biodiversity requirements.
• Technical assurance of ecology and biodiversity assessments and reports, landscape and ecological management plans (LEMP), Habitat management and monitoring plans (HMMP) and construction environmental management plans (CEMP).
• Support environmental and social appraisals (ESA) for the programme if required.
• 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.
• Management of biodiversity on construction sites as the ecological clerk of works (ECoW).
• Supporting the delivery of SITES assessment on new construction projects.
• Management of licence applications, including developing mitigation and monitoring.
• Advising clients on how they can deliver their strategic ecology priorities and nature-based solutions, including writing policies and developing portfolio/estate-wide strategies with them.
• Delivering training and support to the wider team and mentoring junior team members.

• Holds a degree or equivalent qualification (e.g., N/SVQ level
  5) in ecology or a related subject.
• Strong survey skills which include extended UK habitat surveys in support of BNG assessment.
• Preparing biodiversity net gain calculations and reporting.
• Natural capital and ecosystem service assessments using the environmental benefits from nature tool.
• Support urban greening factor (UGF) delivery including advising on planting species.
• GIS proficient (ArcGIS or QGIS).
• Full membership of one of the following organisations:
  • Chartered institute of ecology and environmental management (CIEEM) (preferred).
  • Chartered institution of water and environmental management (CIWEM).
  • Institute of environmental management and assessment (IEMA).
  • The Institution of environmental sciences (IES).