At Bellway we recognise that people are the key to our success and we are working towards becoming a more inclusive employer that values and respects individual differences in the workplace. Bellway is launching a new sustainability strategy (Better with Bellway) that will be fully integrated into all facets of the business and integral to this will be how Bellway manages it’s impacts on nature. Bellway aspires to ensure that the legacy of our new homes developments is net positive in respect of long-term biodiversity outcomes, and this is an exciting opportunity to join one of the UK’s largest house builders and help to help shape the company’s biodiversity strategy for years to come. 

The Role

The role of Head of Biodiversity is a business-critical role and is responsible for effectively leading and managing the Group’s approach towards biodiversity. They will develop and deliver a national strategy to implement biodiversity management and improvement programmes across this business, with specific attention on the ‘net gain’ requirement as part of the environment bill. Agreed programmes will need to be integrated the across the company’s divisional structures and with key customers.

Reporting to the Group Special Projects Director (Strategic Land), principal accountabilities of the role include:

• Develop a national strategy to implement biodiversity management and improvement programmes across this business, with specific attention on the ‘net gain’ requirement as part of the environment bill.
• Work with various specialist functions to engage with the 22 Divisions to implement the biodiversity strategy, placing biodiversity delivery as a cornerstone of sustainability in construction and raising awareness of the value and public benefits arising from our biodiversity approach.
• Ensure that our key biodiversity policies and programmes are up to date with legislation and best-practice and are fully implemented across all Company operations.
• Work with Group and Divisional land and planning teams to ensure that biodiversity net gain requirements are understood and factored into land bids and planning applications.
• Work with Group sustainability, marketing and communication functions to integrate biodiversity into the wider Better with Bellway sustainability strategy and reporting.
• Work with various functions to promote and raise the profile and benefits of biodiversity enhancement among the local community where we develop, including opportunities for education, access and recreation.
• Develop and manage our emerging nature partnership to deliver biodiversity benefits for all parties and manage the planned nature-based volunteering programme.
• Facilitate any biodiversity project groups, present reports, provide progress updates to the Better with Bellway steering group and seek members’ views as needed.

Experience, Qualifications and Skills

Experience

• Work experience in the field of biodiversity, sustainable development or a related area of work.
• Extensive experience working at a senior level within a biodiversity (or related) function managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience of the housebuilding or wider construction industry would be a benefit.
• A good level of knowledge and understanding of existing and emerging environmental legislation as it applied to biodiversity and nature conservation.

Qualifications and Training

• A University degree in a relevant field (or equivalent) is preferable (e.g. environmental science, biology, conservation science, social science).
• Current full driving licence.

Skills and Aptitude

• Strong communication, listening and presentation skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Methodical, conscientious, organised and works to deliver high standards.
• The ability to recognise problems and deal with them in a speedy and effective manner.
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organisation.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Ability to thrive under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrates the ability to delegate effectively.
• Proven analytical, conceptual, organisation, and problem-solving skills.
• Detail and outcome oriented, with a strong ability to work independently and on multiple tasks simultaneously and meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of outputs.
• IT literate and the ability to adapt to new systems.
• Committed to diversity and inclusion

The Role and Working Conditions

• Office based role, working Monday to Friday with regular travel to Divisions and development sites across the UK.
• Willing to be flexible in respect to day-to-day duties and hours worked.
• Flexible Working and Agile Working policies are available.
• Core hours working arrangements.

In return we can offer you:

• Competitive salary
• Competitive car allowance
• 33 days holidays per annum
• Contributory pension scheme
• Free on-site gym
• Access to rewards portal

We reserve the right to close this vacancy if a large volume of applications are received.