SZC Site Ecologist - Sizewell C, Suffolk

at  Balfour Beatty

About the role
SZC is ultimately owned by two shareholders, EDF and HMG. The shareholders hold their investment in SZC through NNB Holdings Company (SZC) Limited. Over the course of the current shareholding arrangements the shareholdings of the two shareholders will change.
The shareholders will fund SZC up until Financial Close through equity in line with the approved schedule and budget. SZC’s business is to design, finance, construct, commission, operate, maintain, and eventually decommission the nuclear power plant and related infrastructure (including activities relating to hydrogen, direct air capture and/or desalination) at Sizewell C in Suffolk. The principal objectives of the current development phase of the SZC project are to agree and implement the Capital Raise Plan, including completing an equity and debt raise, agree the core supply chain contracts and obtain the regulatory permits and licences required for the construction phase of the Project (including the core environmental permits and nuclear site licence).
Prior to the government investment decision SZC operated as part of EDF in the Nuclear Development business unit and was staffed by EDF colleagues and independent contractors who are now in the process of transferring to the direct employment of SZC. It is setting itself up as an organisation capable of
delivering a new nuclear power plant, from investment case and funding, to construction, commissioning, operations, maintenance and decommissioning.
The SZC construction programme has a technical and commercial business case predicated on technical replication of Hinkley Point C. EDF will be an important supplier of nuclear capability for the SZC Programme from its established nuclear business footprint in the UK.
Key stakeholders are: UK Government, relevant Government departments and agencies including Treasury BEIS, EDF, Financial investors and institutions, Regulators, Alliance partners and local communities.

What you’ll be doing

• Provide pragmatic support and advice to contract and operational teams on site with delivering ecological requirements to programme, budget and quality standard. This includes on-site surveys, inspections and watching briefs, providing practical advice on programme and on-site measures required from the works information, and providing practical advice on legal requirements and company standards.
• Problem-solve, finding practical cost-effective solutions to ecological challenges facing construction teams.
• Liaise with design teams, clients and stakeholders.
• Provide ecological consultancy services to external and internal clients including surveys, mitigation and enhancement design, and on-site support.
• Provide technical support for Biodiversity Net Gain initiatives.

Actively help deliver a culture of continual improvement of on-site ecological practice that is solution-orientated to support construction teams.
Who we’re looking for

Reporting to the Balfour Beatty Head of Sustainability: Natural Environment and project leads, the Site Ecologist perform the following key activities:

• Provide pragmatic advice and site support to operational teams on ecological requirements
• Develop and support implementation of ecological management plans
• Build relationships with regulators, clients and design teams, and internal teams.
• Support site compliance with ecological legislation and coach construction teams in applying controls and mitigations in pragmatic, cost-effective ways
• Ensure the company environmental management system is maintained in line with changing standards and legislation and liaise with senior team lead on changes required
• Investigate and report ecological incidents

Undertake habitat suitability assessments and protected species surveys.

• Excellent understanding of ecological legalisation for development
• Good level of commercial awareness
• Full UK driver’s licence and flexibility to travel
• Good understanding of environmental management for construction sites
• Excellent understanding of the utilities/construction/engineering operating environment
• Literate in MS Office – Word, Excel, Outlook
• Good interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills
• CIEEM Membership
• Experience of working on large scale infrastructure construction projects

The following qualities/experience are desirable:

• At least one protected species survey licence

Why work for us
Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

What you’ll be doing

• Provide pragmatic support and advice to contract and operational teams on site with delivering ecological requirements to programme, budget and quality standard. This includes on-site surveys, inspections and watching briefs, providing practical advice on programme and on-site measures required from the works information, and providing practical advice on legal requirements and company standards.
• Problem-solve, finding practical cost-effective solutions to ecological challenges facing construction teams.
• Liaise with design teams, clients and stakeholders.
• Provide ecological consultancy services to external and internal clients including surveys, mitigation and enhancement design, and on-site support.
• Provide technical support for Biodiversity Net Gain initiatives

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more