MRV Operations Manager

About Renew

Renew (www.renewearth.com) is a start-up aiming to help businesses incorporate nature improvement into their commercial decision making. We promote a multi-metric approach to the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of nature, working across taxonomic groups for an ecosystem level snapshot of the state of biodiversity, and provide clients with access to this data through a transparent and traceable digital platform. We then support corporate clients on integrating nature-positive solutions into their supply chains, support other landowners and managers in tackling key environmental challenges, and help clients to unlock value from their natural capital (e.g. through voluntary nature markets).

Data quality and transparency are at the centre of everything we do, and we are strong believers that the only way to effectively monitor changes in biodiversity with integrity is through on-the-ground measurement. As a result, a significant part of our work is in designing, planning and delivering complex biodiversity surveys, often across large landscapes. For some clients our internal team carries out the surveying, whilst for others we support the client in collecting their own data. Regardless of the circumstances, each survey event carries significant logistical and equipment considerations, requiring careful planning and implementation. As we scale our business, it is vital that we ensure the operational delivery of our on-the-ground MRV is fully optimised for cost and efficiency, without sacrificing the scientific integrity our reputation is built on.

About the Role

The MRV Operations Manager is a new and strategically important role in the company. As our on-the-ground MRV work scales in volume, complexity and geographic spread, we are creating a dedicated operational leadership position to ensure this work is delivered efficiently, consistently and cost-effectively, without compromising scientific integrity.

This role is for someone who sees themselves first and foremost as an operations professional, and who is motivated by building efficient, scalable ways of delivering complex, field-based work. You might come from operations, logistic, project delivery, or supplier management, and have experience working in technical or scientific environments. An ecology or environmental background is helpful but not required. This role is not primarily a hands-on ecology position, and it may not suit someone looking to spend most of their time conducting field surveys or developing ecological methodologies. While you will engage closely with fieldwork and scientific teams, your core value to Renew will be in designing and running the operational systems that allow high-quality MRV to happen at scale.

This role is first and foremost about operational design and delivery. You will own the end-to-end operational model that underpins our biodiversity data collection – from how surveys are resourced, through supplier and equipment strategy, to how logistics, health and safety, and costs are managed across projects. You will work closely with ecologists, product and client teams, but your primary focus will be on building systems, processes and partnerships that allow those teams to operate at scale.

While an understanding of ecology, and particularly ecological fieldwork, is highly valuable context for this role, we are not specifically looking for career ecologist. Instead, we are seeking someone with strong operational instincts who is comfortable working in a scientifically rigorous environment and translating complex field requirements into efficient, repeatable operational solutions.

In the short term, you will take ownership of improving and standardising our existing operational approaches. Over time, you will play a key role in shaping Renew’s long-term MRV delivery strategy, including decisions around make-vs-buy, supplier models, equipment provisioning, and how we enable clients and partners to collect high-quality data themselves.

This is a hands-on role in a fast-growing company, and the scope will evolve as Renew grows. The successful candidate will have significant opportunity to shape both the role and the wider MRV operating model.

Person Specification

Essential experience and capabilities:

• Demonstrate experience in operational planning, delivery or management, ideally in a field-based technical or regulated environment
• Strong ability to design, improve and run operational processes involving logistics, suppliers, equipment, people and budgets
• Experience managing or coordinating third-party suppliers or service providers, including performance, cost and quality considerations
• Commercial awareness, with evidence of improving cost effectiveness, efficiency or scalability without compromising quality
• Confidence working across teams with different skillsets (e.g. technical specialists, delivery teams, clients)
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, including the ability to respond calmly and pragmatically to changing priorities
• Ability to manage workload independently in a remote, fast-moving start-up environment
• Willingness to spend time in the field as required to support delivery and inform operational decision-making

Desirable (but not essential) experience and background:

• Background or qualification in ecology, environmental science, geography or a related discipline
• Familiarity with ecological field surveys, environmental monitoring, or biodiversity data collection
• Experience working in MRV, natural capital, environmental consulting, or nature-based solutions
• Project or programme management experience
• Experience developing or refining health and safety processes for field-based work

Personal attributes:

• Systems-oriented thinker who enjoys turning complexity into clear, workable solutions
• Comfortable operating at the intersection of science, operations and commercial reality
• Pragmatic, delivery-focused and improvement-driven
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage external partners and internal stakeholders constructively
• Curious and adaptable, with an interest in how nature-related data and markets are evolving

Working Arrangements

This is a permanent position (subject to a three-month probationary period) with a salary range of £34,000 - £40,000 per annum, depending on experience. We are a fully-remote company, and offer staff the opportunity to meet in person in the UK several times per year. We are seeking candidates who are based in the UK and have a legal right to work here. Candidates should be willing and able to spend short periods of time away from home, often in remote locations, primarily in the UK but with scope to become international as the company grows.