Graduate Ecologist 2022

Arup is an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, architects, consultants and technical specialists, working across every aspect of today's built environment. Together we help our clients solve their most complex challenges – turning exciting ideas into tangible reality as we strive to find a better way and shape a better world.

Overview of the role

We are looking for a Graduate Ecologist to join our ecology team in the Midlands. Our focus is driving high quality design that achieves biodiversity net gain as part of complex development projects. We operate as part of multidisciplinary project teams working with other environmental specialists and engineering colleagues to embed biodiversity within new schemes across sectors including highways, rail, energy and flood risk management. Our clients include major public and private sector organisations that rely upon our expertise within ecological assessment, mitigation and enhancement to deliver high profile projects sustainably, both in the UK and internationally.

You will help us to deliver effective and professional ecology services across a diversity of projects. The role will be a varied mix of office and field work. You will assist with habitat and species surveys, and analyse the results to prepare clear and concise ecological reports and calculations of predicted biodiversity change. Your immediate team will comprise 13 ecologists with a wealth of experience, forming the largest team within Arup's national ecology skills network of c.60 staff. Your responsibilities from day one will improve your skills as an ecologist and give exposure to commercial and project management processes, shaping your growth into a well-rounded ecological consultant. You will build skills for the future in a company that places sustainable development above everything else as our primary goal.

What we are looking for

• Bachelor's degree or higher degree in Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Botany, Geography or Environmental Sciences (Prediction of 2.1 or higher) or equivalent 
• Possess a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, with experience of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software being an advantage. 
• You'll need to have a passion for ecology. We expect you to be able to demonstrate this through your experience of ecological field work in a voluntary, academic and/or previous employment setting.   
• This role will require drafting of high-quality ecological reports. We'll be looking for you to demonstrate relevant data analysis and scientific writing skills, and awareness of best practice guidelines and relevant nature conservation legislation and policy.
• We typically work across multiple projects and deliverables concurrently.  We'll expect you to explain how you've previously managed competing demands and delivered results efficiently. 

You must be available to start this opportunity in September 2022.

What we offer you

Beyond a great salary and stimulating, technically challenging work, Arup offers a range of additional benefits to its people.

As a membership organisation, everyone shares in our success through a global profit share scheme. Our people also have access to a range of broader wellbeing benefits.

You'll have access to lots of learning opportunities including a structured induction and ongoing training through Arup university.

Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to utilise your technical expertise to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in the communities in which we live and work through Arup's community engagement programme.