Conservation Adviser

We have exciting new vacancies for Conservation Advisers to join our Conservation team. If you are looking for a role that has a focus on our local environment and loves engaging with equally passionate people, then we want to hear from you!

You will be encouraged to have a voice, be free-thinking and empowered and work in a high-performing team. You will have a genuine opportunity to make an impact and we will actively invest in your professional development.

Our team has recently delivered significant habitat creation and restoration projects across our region and we are looking to build on these! The roles are not linked to development/construction or associated biodiversity net gain.

Although based in Bath, this role will require you to travel throughout the Wessex Water region regularly. We offer hybrid working, allowing you to work from home some of the time, if preferred, as well as in our office.

What you'll do

We own and lease nearly 3,000 hectares of land. Our sites and landholdings range from small pumping stations to large treatment works, reservoirs and farmland. Wessex Water and our tenants occupy more than 290 hectares of SSSI and over 900 hectares designated as either a Local Wildlife Site or Local Geological Site.

We are committed to meeting our responsibilities to conserve and enhance wildlife and heritage. We work well together to drive great solutions for our customers and the environment. Reporting to a Principal Conservation Adviser, you will work on Wessex Water's landholding, contributing to the Conservation team's delivery of Wessex Water's conservation duties and commitment.

The five vacancies will be split across the following roles:

• the Peatland Project Conservation Adviser (x1 role) will deliver an appraisal of nearly 400 hectares of peatland sites to identify future restoration management and undertake a risk assessment and options appraisal of our abstractions on peaty soils within our supply catchments
• the Birds Project Conservation Adviser (x1 role) will deliver habitat-focused enhancement to maximise opportunities for bird species of conservation concern and ‘flagship' species on over 50 sites across the Wessex Water region
• the Habitat Management Conservation Advisers (x3 roles) will produce and implement conservation land management plans for over 120 sites, ranging from small water treatment works to large reservoir sites and source protection land.

The roles are diverse and will also involve all aspects of delivering conservation land management and provision of advice to the business to support the delivery of our biodiversity land management commitments. You will liaise with teams across Wessex Water and with external stakeholders including volunteers and community groups. 

Day to day you will progress project work, which may include desktop assessment, procuring and overseeing services from contractors and consultants, general project management and reporting to our regulators. You will also undertake surveys, prescribe and oversee management and implement monitoring to conserve and enhance habitats and species of biodiversity importance, or areas of geological or heritage importance, on our sites.

What you'll need

To be successful in these roles, you will have a minimum of three years of experience in the conservation, ecology or environmental sector. It is desirable that you will have a Biological Sciences, Environmental Management degree or similar, however, dependent on experience, this is not essential. 

You will have: 

• experience in environmental project management delivery
• an understanding and experience in ecological surveying, habitat identification and classification, monitoring, data analysis and recording
• knowledge of UK ecology, habitat management, conservation issues and policy.

You will work well within and across teams, and you can work alone, including in the field. You will be positive, pragmatic and forward-thinking, with a flexible approach to problem-solving and achieving solutions. Good IT skills, including Microsoft Excel, Word and SharePoint tools, in addition to GIS (Esri), are essential for this role.

You will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, great organisational and time management abilities, and a keen attention to detail. You will be motivated and passionate about environmental issues.   

The role will include travel around the Wessex Water region, which in some cases can be very rural; a full UK driving licence is essential. 

What you'll receive

• A combined pension contribution of up to 20%.
• Career progression and professional development opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days' holiday and sell up to five every year.
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• A new electric car in exchange for part of your gross salary, subject to conditions.
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• An interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from mental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone to work for us.

Who we are

YTL UK is part of the international YTL Group based in Kuala Lumpur. The UK companies include:

• Wessex Water – one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9 million people across the South West.
• YTL Developments – a major UK developer currently redeveloping a 350 acre former airfield into an award winning, exciting mix of houses, apartments, schools, commercial space, restaurants and hotels, to make a truly sustainable new community.
• YTL Construction UK – a top 20 UK contractor providing fully integrated services to infrastructure, residential, commercial, industry, energy and environmental sectors.
• YTL Arena – the development and operation of an entertainment complex that includes a 19,000 capacity arena, conferencing and exhibition space.
• Plus a number of other retail, environmental and specialist businesses.

Our people tell us that YTL UK is a great place to work, which is why so many of them stay with us! You will have a unique opportunity to develop and progress your career within such a diverse group.

We are passionate about diversity and inclusion – with that in mind, all applicants are welcome. We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer.  

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please inform a member of our Recruitment team.