The Opportunity:

Arup's innovative approach to nature services enables clients to achieve their sustainable business and corporate responsibility aspirations. 

Our consultants offer a multidisciplinary service aimed at developing policy, optioneering, assessing impacts, creative design and implementation, supporting stakeholder engagement, gaining regulatory approvals, managing risk and controlling costs. 

Right now, we're looking for graduate consultants to join our team of bright professionals. As our Nature Teams within Climate and Sustainability Services offer a multidisciplinary service, we are looking for graduates with diverse skills and interests. 

From your first day, you'll join an unrivalled community of experts, where you will be supported and mentored in your chosen career path and encouraged to work towards a professional qualification (such as professional membership of CIEEM) during the early years of your career with us. We have enrolled recent graduates on CIEEM's early careers training programme alongside in-house training Arup provides, so you can be sure you will develop quickly in these roles.  

You'll help us to deliver effective and professional services for a range of varied and high-profile clients. While you'll have good level of responsibility from day one, we'll give you the chance to take on more as you progress and broaden your skills. 

You will gain a thorough understanding and experience of the role of an ecological consultant whilst gaining the breadth of experience needed to achieve your professional qualification. 

We anticipate these roles will be varied but will focus on the collation, interpretation and mapping of ecological data, assessment (including Biodiversity Net Gain and related tools) and biodiversity-led design. Your day-to-day responsibilities could include the following: 

• Conducting ecological desk studies, including sourcing and evaluating biodiversity records 
• Assisting in the design and undertaking of surveys for a range of habitat, flora and fauna types 
• Analysis of survey data and results 
• Collation and assimilation of ecological data captured in the field using a range of devices 
• Use of ArcGIS and other software to produce high quality outputs to accompany technical reports 
• Preparation of clear and concise written reports 
• Collaborating within design teams to devise successful and meaningful solutions that maximise biodiversity gains 
• Managing delivery and budgets on small-scale projects 
• Assisting with the preparation of bids and tenders 
• Planning your workload so that you can deliver on time or ahead of target 
• Inputting to the team's research projects 
• Assisting the broader activities of the ecology and biodiversity group across Arup and related teams, including the co-ordination of social and other team-focused events 

For those applying to London: 

In your first year, you will have the opportunity to spend four months in two or more of our other environmental teams across the Climate and Sustainability Services portfolio, totalling eight months, namely: Waste and Resources, Air Quality, Contaminated Land, Nature, Environmental Assessments, and Historic Environment. This will provide invaluable opportunities for professional growth including developing a diverse range of technical skills, a wide support network and a good insight into our capabilities: 

During the periods of rotation within other teams, your day-to-day responsibilities will vary and could include the following:  

• assisting in the design and undertaking of surveys and site investigations; 
• coordinating environmental specialists to input into projects; 
• data analysis of survey results; 
• reviewing environmental and historical information and preparing reports;  
• data analysis of survey results; and, 
• contributing towards impact assessments and other technical reports. 

Is this role right for you? 

We encourage our Graduate Consultants to demonstrate drive and motivation, a thorough understanding of our sector, and a desire to effectively deliver an excellent technical service to our clients. With busy, diverse teams, we seek individuals who can work flexibly and respond to the needs of our clients. As such, we are looking for the following qualifications, skills, and attributes in you: 

• Bachelor's degree or higher degree in Ecology, Biology, Biological Sciences, Zoology, Geography or Environmental Sciences (Minimum 2.1) or equivalent 
• Experience in the use of geo-spatial mapping packages (notably ArcGIS) 
• Some experience of field surveying (including acquired at university) 
• Sound understanding of ecological processes and wider environmental trends 
• An appreciation and understanding of wildlife law and relevant policies, including emerging requirements under the Environment Bill 
• Active member of an ecological society or organisation, such as BTO, BES, CIEEM student membership, RSPB, local wildlife trust or bat group, or relevant university societies 
• An active interest in the range of work opportunities in the nature sector e.g strategic biodiversity planning, nature design, contributing to inclusive urban green spaces with multi-faceted benefits e.g. air quality, health and wellbeing, flooding 
• Basic skills in botanical identification (desirable) 

We're looking for people who are curious and ready to evolve how you think and work.  Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas. At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. If you can share your knowledge and ideas and encourage others to do the same; whilst having a desire to deliver excellent services for clients – we'd like to hear from you. 

You should be able to start this opportunity in September 2024.