At Mace, our purpose is to redefine the boundaries of ambition. We believe in creating places that are responsible, bringing transformative impact to our people, communities and societies across the globe. To learn more about our purpose, culture, and priorities, visit our strategy site.

Within our Consult business we harness our unique combination of leading-edge practical expertise and project delivery consultancy to unlock the potential in every project.

The Project

We are a purpose-led organisation that places diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do. Our responsible business practice group comprising 150+ people bring themselves to work each day to make a difference; to create a low carbon resilient world, shaping cities and building thriving communities, and helping our clients to realise their ambitions.

Our values shape the way we consult, and define the people we want to join us on our journey, they are:

• Safety first – Going home safe and well
• Client focus – Deliver on our promise
• Integrity – Always do the right thing
• Create opportunity – for our people to excel

This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified ecologist experienced in Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) to join Mace’s Responsible Business team and support our growing biodiversity team in leading BNG and sustainable development on key consultancy projects across all sectors so our clients can achieve their BNG targets. 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 ecology, 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.

This can be a hybrid role based from anywhere in the UK. We have regional hubs in London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Winchester.

Responsibilities

You’ll be responsible for:

• Carrying out extended Phase 1 habitat/ UKHab surveys on sites, and BREEAM reports for key clients including the Department for Education (DfE) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) – excluding Phase 2 ecology surveys.
• Preparation of management plans and documents required to secure projects.
• Involvement in early design layout workshops with design teams, applying the mitigation hierarchy principles so biodiversity is considered early in site layout development.
• Supporting Mace colleagues with the commissioning of ecology surveys, including preparing technical scopes for sub-consultants and developing strong working relationships with them.
• Liaison with various stakeholders including developers, local authorities, landowners, environmental NGOs.
• Land management advice, habitat restoration advice, overseeing habitat creation projects.
• Defra biodiversity net gain assessments, including use of biodiversity metrics and design and delivery of net gain solutions.
• GIS Mapping.
• Writing and carrying out technical assurance reviews of ecology reports such as phase 2 ecological surveys, habitat/landscape management plans, construction environmental management plans etc.
• Advising clients on how they can deliver their strategic ecology priorities, including writing policies and developing portfolio/estate-wide strategies with them.
• 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.
• Supporting work-winning through bids, solutioning, client liaison and raising Mace’s profile externally. This will include the development of Mace’s service offers around natural capital reporting and nature-based solutions.
• Authoring Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIAs) and Biodiversity chapters for inclusion within Environmental Statement (ES).
• Developing proposals.

You’ll also have:

• Passion to deliver ambitious sustainability results, excited by the prospect of working with pioneering clients and delivery teams.
• A willingness, appetite and enthusiasm for new challenges.
• An appetite for driving continual technical development and innovation within our biodiversity team.
• 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.
• GIS proficient (ArcGIS or QGIS).
• Full membership of one of the following organisations, Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES).
• Full UK driving license.
• Experience practising ecologist, with relevant experience (within the last five years).
• Your experience should be able to demonstrate a practical understanding of factors affecting ecology in relation to construction and the built environment, including acting in an advisory capacity to provide recommendations for ecological protection, enhancement, and mitigation measures.
• UK-wide experience (also covering Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland).
• Knowledge of relevant UK wildlife legislation and ecological survey methodologies.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all of the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation.