Graduate Ecologist

Every day, we deliver one of life’s most essential services to millions of people across the North West. From providing safe, high-quality drinking water to protecting the environment and supporting thriving communities, the work we do matters. We’re now in the second year of our £16.5 billion investment programme, one of the largest transformation programmes in our history. It’s an exciting time to join us as we improve our services, enhance environmental performance, embrace innovation and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

There’s more to us than just great water. We are where purpose flows.

As part of our Planning, Landscape, Ecology and Access team, you’ll play an important role in helping United Utilities deliver major investment projects while protecting and enhancing the natural environment. Working alongside experienced ecologists, planners, landscape architects and environmental specialists, you’ll support projects across our operational area, helping to ensure biodiversity, protected species, habitats and wider environmental considerations are embedded throughout project development and delivery.

The team is central to our commitment to improving environmental performance, achieving sustainability objectives and delivering positive outcomes for nature and local communities.

As an Ecology Graduate, you’ll support ecological assessments and environmental surveys that enable the safe and compliant delivery of capital investment projects. You will work with colleagues, consultants, contractors and regulators to identify ecological constraints and opportunities, helping to ensure projects meet environmental legislation, policy requirements and best practice standards. Through a combination of fieldwork, technical assessment and stakeholder engagement, you’ll develop a broad range of ecological and environmental skills while contributing to projects that make a positive difference across the North West.

• Supporting the delivery of ecological surveys, habitat assessments and environmental studies across a wide range of water and wastewater projects.
• Assisting with the identification and management of ecological constraints, including protected species, priority habitats and Biodiversity Net Gain requirements.
• Working alongside experienced ecologists and project teams to ensure environmental risks are identified and appropriately managed throughout project development and construction.
• Helping to review ecological reports, mitigation proposals and environmental management plans produced by consultants and contractors.
• Developing strong working relationships with internal teams and external organisations, including Natural England, local planning authorities, the Environment Agency and conservation stakeholders.
• Supporting site visits and occasional field surveys to gain practical experience of ecological assessment and environmental management.
• Representing the ecology team at project meetings and community engagement events, helping communicate environmental considerations to a range of audiences.
• Developing the skills, knowledge and experience required to progress towards professional membership and chartership with the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), supported by structured training, mentoring and project experience.
• Working collaboratively with the wider graduate network while building your knowledge of the water industry, natural environment and sustainable infrastructure delivery.

• A passion for ecology, biodiversity conservation and the natural environment,…