Biodiversity Net Specialist

Overview

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Note: The following sections summarize responsibilities, qualifications and culture from the original description, reformatted for clarity.

We are seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Biodiversity Net Gain Specialist to lead the development and delivery of BNG strategies across our projects. This is a pivotal role in shaping our environmental impact, ensuring compliance with emerging legislation, and driving nature-positive outcomes.

We’re hiring nationwide, with opportunities available in our offices across Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Peterborough and Reading. Wherever you’re based, you’ll find a welcoming team and exciting projects waiting for you.

At Jacobs, we don’t just offer jobs—we build careers. You’ll be joining a respected and ambitious company with a strong reputation for excellence and innovation. Our commitment to your growth is backed by:

• 🌍 Global Career Framework – chart your path with clarity and purpose
• 🎓 Chartership Academy Programme – support to achieve professional accreditation
• 🌍 Employee Networks & Communities of Practice – connect with over 200 ecologists in the UK & Ireland, and 600+ globally
• 🌱 A culture of collaboration and sustainability – work on projects that matter

Positions are available on a permanent full-time and part-time, job share or flexible basis.

The role will include:

• Using your experience to lead on applying a biodiversity net gain approach to projects, including the use of biodiversity metrics and the design and delivery of net gain solutions
• Working in multidisciplinary teams – quickly building rapport and trust to ensure that terrestrial ecology requirements are recognised, acknowledged and designed into projects to maximise outcomes for biodiversity and ecosystem services
• Supporting and engaging with our Geospatial team to deliver innovative digital approaches to assessment
• Ensuring quality standards by delivering assessments / reports through quality assurance protocols
• Contributing to our broader Nature Positive offering, including natural capital and environmental net gain approaches
• Leveraging your experience of biodiversity net gain to support other ecology deliverables such as Ecological Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulation Appraisals
• Developing and sharing skills that build team and individual capability. This will include engagement with our global communities of practice, externally facing communications (conferences, presentations, client meetings) and training events

• Detailed working knowledge of the biodiversity net gain approach, including the Defra Statutory Biodiversity Metric, and the underpinning policy and legislative drivers
• Working knowledge of designing for biodiversity net gain including knowledge and experience of habitat restoration, enhancement and creation techniques
• Technical reporting skills in cognisance of national legislation and guidance including experience of preparing habitat management and monitoring plans
• Effective client, stakeholder and regulator engagement
• Leadership skills in ecological input to projects
• Understanding of project consenting and construction
• Chartered membership of a professional body (or experience to obtain chartership)

Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and diversity. We put people at the heart of our business and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

We aim to embed inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected, and if we are diverse, we’re more creative. We accept people for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, mental health,…