Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
What if you could shape a career as unique as you? At WSP, you can find opportunities to grow and do what matters to you. Make the most of our global reach to discover new challenges and work with diverse, talented individuals who will help you expand your horizons. Shape nature-positive development and deliver lasting environmental impact.

We are seeking an experienced Principal Biodiversity Net Gain Specialist to join our growing Nature Services team. This is a chance to play a leading role in embedding biodiversity into major infrastructure, energy, water, transport, and property projects, helping clients navigate the evolving Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) landscape while delivering tangible, measurable outcomes for nature.

In this role, you will combine deep technical expertise with commercial awareness, project leadership, and client engagement, becoming a trusted advisor to clients and colleagues alike. You will lead the delivery of BNG assessments and strategies across a diverse portfolio of projects, from early feasibility and planning through to implementation and long-term habitat management.

You will work alongside multidisciplinary teams including ecologists, environmental planners, landscape architects, GIS specialists, engineers, and natural capital experts to integrate nature-positive solutions into complex developments across the UK. This highly visible role offers excellent opportunities to contribute to business growth, develop thought leadership, and influence best practice across the sector.

What You'll Be Doing
Technical Leadership
Lead and provide technical oversight of BNG assessments, statutory biodiversity metric calculations, and habitat condition assessments. Develop and review BNG strategies, technical reports, Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMPs), and planning documentation. Advise clients and project teams on legislation, policy, guidance, and ecological best practice. Develop practical on-site and off-site habitat enhancement, restoration, and creation solutions. Support Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), and planning applications. Drive consistency, innovation, and technical excellence across the business.

Project & Commercial Leadership
Manage projects and workstreams from inception through to delivery. Oversee programme, budget, resource planning, quality assurance, and risk management. Identify project opportunities, manage scope changes, and support commercial success. Deliver high-quality outcomes while balancing client expectations, risk, and programme requirements.

Client & Business Development
Build long-term relationships as a trusted advisor to clients. Lead or contribute to proposals, tenders, and winning work. Identify opportunities for growth across existing client accounts. Represent the business at industry events, workshops, and technical forums.

People & Culture
Mentor and support ecologists and BNG practitioners at varying career stages. Promote knowledge sharing and technical development across teams. Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing culture. Champion health, safety, and wellbeing across project delivery.

Experience
Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Environmental Management or related discipline. Significant experience delivering and leading Biodiversity Net Gain projects within consultancy, infrastructure, development, or environmental sectors. Strong working knowledge of Statutory Biodiversity Metric, UKHab habitat classification, habitat condition assessment, biodiversity legislation, planning policy, and guidance. Experience preparing and reviewing BNG Assessments, BNG Strategies, Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans, and planning and consenting documentation. Project management experience including budget, programme, and resource management. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. Experience mentoring, supervising, or developing colleagues.

About You
You will be an established BNG professional with a strong blend of technical expertise, project leadership, and commercial awareness. Passionate about creating practical biodiversity solutions, influencing decision-making, and mentoring the next generation of environmental professionals.

Qualifications
Desirable qualifications include full membership of CIEEM or equivalent professional body, Chartered Ecologist (CEcol), Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) or equivalent professional recognition. Experience supporting major infrastructure, transport, energy, or water projects. Knowledge of natural capital, ecosystem services, and wider environmental markets. GIS and spatial analysis experience. Experience developing guidance, tools, training, or thought leadership.