Job summary

Our Water sector client is seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Environment Manager to join their Havant Thicket Reservoir Project.

Key skills required for this role

Environment, Management, Construction, Reservoir, Biodiversity, Water

Important

Previous project experience an advantage

Job description

Our Water sector client is seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Environment Manager to join their Havant Thicket Reservoir Project.

Our client has embarked on a £123m project to build a reservoir at Havant Thicket. This environmentally led project will safeguard future water supplies and provide a place of natural beauty for the community to enjoy. The reservoir will provide wetland habitats, paths for walking, cycling, running and horse-riding, and a visitors' centre providing a café and educational resources for schools. The project will be mainly delivered through a main reservoir contract and two pipeline contracts, with some additional related contracts for both onsite and offsite biodiversity mitigation & compensation project.

The environment is at the heart of the reservoir project, with mitigation and compensation plans which include the creation of over 200 hectares of new and improved woodland and wood pasture. Environmental mitigation works started in 2019, with the creation of wildlife corridors and the planting of 6,000 trees. Our client are currently looking for an enthusiastic Assistant Environment Manager who has knowledge and experience of the legislative framework for Ecology but also has a track record in project delivery and advisory work. The successful candidate must be able to support with taking these plans forward, to support further development of environmental management plans, engage with stakeholders and ensure the best possible outcomes from an environmental perspective.

The successful candidate will need to work at all times in line with our clients' values of Excellence, Integrity and Respect.

Responsibilities

Project Management

• Coordinate the management and monitoring of the Havant Thicket Reservoir Biodiversity Mitigation and Compensation Strategy and European Protected Species Licence for Bats and Dormice.
• Working with professional advisers to ensure that works proceed in accordance with planning permission, licences and compliance with all relevant regulations.
• Support environmental stakeholder engagement, including public consultations, area-specific events, community volunteering and educational activities, and guided walks.

Ecology

• Coordinate the organisation and implementation of protected species and habitat surveys on Havant Thicket; this will include liaising with client staff, conducting or assisting with surveys, and inputting survey data.
• Coordinate the delivery of specific ecological survey/monitoring programmes (e.g. butterfly transects).
• Provide technical advice and support on habitat and species including their management.
• Support develop and manage environmental input into reports, presentations and briefings, to input into informed decisions and update stakeholders.

Corrective actions advice

• Advise on measures to reduce the adverse environmental effects of project works, including working to assure compliance with relevant environmental thresholds established through existing and future project consents.
• Assist in the assurance of the adherence to environmental best practice and environmental contractual obligations pertaining to the activities of the appointed Project Main Works Contractors.

Skills

• Good working knowledge of environmental and ecological legislation policy and best practice required to meet protected species surveys and mitigation and S106 planning conditions.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to build excellent relationships with the team and stakeholders
• Proven project management capability
• Experience of managing teams and professional service consultants
• Good analytical skills, with the ability to review and write environmental management plans, progress reports and decision support papers
• Competency in mapping/GIS

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in in ecology or related subject, or substantial experience in the field
• Holds or working towards a protected species survey licence (e.g., Hazel Dormice or Bats)
• Knowledgeable with regards to wildlife legislation, in particular protected species and habitats
• Experience of monitoring, evaluating and reporting on biodiversity projects
• Experience of undertaking ecological surveys
• Knowledge and experience of landscape scale conservation
• Practical application of environmental assessment and management on major infrastructure projects or within a large organisation
• Member of a relevant professional institution e.g. CIEEM
• Project management qualification (PRINCE, APM or PMI)
• Experience of using Contract Management Software would be an advantage
• Experience of managing third party consultations
• Full driving licence

Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience
• This position is a fixed term but salaried role to run the duration of the Havant Thicket Reservoir Project (2028/29)
• Company pension
• 24 days holiday plus bank holiday - rising by 1 day for each year of service
• This is the first reservoir of its kind to be built in the UK in 40 years - many water companies have draft proposals for future reservoir builds so this is a fantastic opportunity to join an area of the water industry with future prospects/employment
• This is a site based role and the candidate will need to live in a commutable distance from Havant