Lead Ecological Assessor - BNG Ecologist

Location: Garforth, Leeds; remote/hybrid working considered and occasional travel essential for site or client meetings.
Salary: Competitive
Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Nature Assurance is a newly formed company seeking designation as a Responsible Body under the Environment Act 2021, overseeing conservation covenants that secure habitat creation and long-term management (typically 30 years) for Biodiversity Net Gain and wider nature recovery.

We are seeking an experienced, professionally accredited ecologist to be our Lead Ecological Assessor and hold senior technical authority for our Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) work across England. Ecological judgement is the core of what a Responsible Body does, and this role is where it sits. You will be the ecologist who decides whether a proposed habitat creation or enhancement scheme is credible, achievable and worth securing for the long term. No ecological assessment, Biodiversity Metric calculation or Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) is approved without your sign-off.

This is a senior role with line management responsibilities. You will approve ecological assessments, Biodiversity Metric calculations and HMMPs, and provide technical oversight and mentoring to our Ecological Assessor team. Essential to this role: Full membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (MCIEEM or FCIEEM), or an equivalent professional body, at a grade that allows you to sign off technical work as a competent ecologist. This is a requirement of the role, and we cannot consider applications without it.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead on the assessment, monitoring and long-term success of habitat creation and enhancement projects while working within a quality-driven and evidence-based organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Approve ecological assessments, Biodiversity Metric calculations, HMMPs, monitoring methodology and monitoring reports.
• Provide technical oversight, mentoring, and approval for Ecological Assessor(s), ensuring quality and consistency across all technical outputs.
• Undertake technical approval of habitat assessments and Biodiversity Metric calculations at key project stages.
• Work closely with the Director of Operations to review conservation covenants, providing technical recommendations.
• Set and maintain technical standards, methodologies and best practice for habitat assessment, Biodiversity Metric application and monitoring plan design across the organisation.
• Undertake and quality-assure ecological site assessments, habitat condition surveys, and BNG monitoring surveys where required.
• Ensure technical compliance with current legislation, guidance, and recognised industry standards, and with the organisation’s quality management system.
• Keep up to date with, and disseminate across the team, developments in ecological guidance, legislation, BNG methodology, and best practice.

Essential Experience

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate:

• Substantial ecological consultancy or habitat management experience.
• Proven, independent experience delivering and approving Biodiversity Net Gain assessments and Biodiversity Metric calculations.
• Experience in habitat assessment, monitoring plan design and Biodiversity Metric application.
• Experience providing technical sign-off, quality assurance, or supervisory oversight of ecological work; experience in a supervisory or technical sign-off capacity is strongly preferred.
• Strong, expert-level working knowledge of UKHab and the Statutory Biodiversity Metric.
• Strong technical report writing and quality-assurance skills.
• Excellent organisational, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound professional judgement, and make objective, evidence-based technical decisions.

Essential Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• Degree-level qualification in Ecology, Environmental Science, Conservation Biology or a related discipline.
• Full membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (MCIEEM or FCIEEM), or an equivalent professional body, at a grade appropriate to sign off technical work.
• Relevant ecological technical certifications, such as habitat assessment, protected species surveys or equivalent recognised training.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable Skills and Experience

It would be advantageous to have experience of:

• Designing and approving Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans.
• Conservation Covenants and Responsible Body operations.
• GIS software (QGIS or ArcGIS), remote sensing or ecological mapping.
• Environmental legislation relating to Biodiversity Net Gain.
• Working with landowners, local authorities and statutory bodies.

Personal Attributes

We are looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about nature recovery and habitat restoration, with a commitment to raising technical standards.
• Detail-oriented with excellent analytical skills and sound technical judgement.
• Able to make objective, evidence-based decisions independently, and to stand behind technical sign-off.
• Committed to maintaining professional integrity, independence and impartiality.
• A natural mentor, comfortable supporting and developing less experienced colleagues.
• Comfortable working outdoors in a variety of environments and weather conditions.
• Confident communicating with clients, landowners, colleagues and senior stakeholders.
• Organised, adaptable and capable of managing multiple projects and competing priorities.

What We Offer

• Professional membership subscriptions.
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) support, including specialist technical training such as Biodiversity Metric updates, habitat condition assessment techniques and GIS systems.
• Career development within a growing organisation.
• A collaborative and supportive working environment.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds and are committed to providing equal opportunities throughout the recruitment process.