Principal / Associate Director - Natural Capital

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Principal or Associate Natural Capital Consultant (level dependent on experience and expertise) to join our Natural Capital & Environmental Net Gain team which is part of our Nature Unit. This role can be based in Croydon, Edinburgh and London, (though other locations may be considered), as well as taking advantage of our flexible hybrid working model. The team works across all aspects of the natural capital agenda including natural capital accounting and appraisal, environmental valuation, environmental net gain analysis, and nature markets. For this role, we expect a particular focus will be on nature recovery strategy work. Our clients and projects cover public, private and third sector organisations both in the UK and internationally across a range of sectors including water, energy, agriculture, forestry, and transport. As a Principal / Associate Natural Capital Consultant in our team, you will be involved in:

• Designing, managing, and delivering projects and liaising directly with clients
• Research and analysis, combining desk studies with analysis of quantitative and qualitative data; reviewing technical work produced by other team members
• Prioritising tasks and meeting commitments on an on-going basis and taking ownership and responsibility for the timely completion and quality of work
• Managing projects in alignment with the AECOM project management principles and making sure projects are delivered on time within budget
• Leading and participating in project team meetings, client meetings and internal meetings
• Contributing to business development by developing client relationships, writing proposals, marketing and thought leadership initiatives, and continuously improving our service offering to clients
• Providing ideas and potential solutions for more effective environmental and sustainability outcomes and proactively promoting best practice and innovation across our business.
Being part of the team;
• The Natural Capital and Environmental Net Gain team is a small multi-disciplinary team that include environmental economists, environmental consultants with natural capital experience and forestry and soils.
• The post will be located in London, Croydon or Edinburgh where our team are based. Hybrid working patterns are in operation: there would be an expectation to be in the office 2 days a week.
• We are a friendly and collaborative team: we work closely with a range of other teams across AECOM including: Carbon & Advisory, Digital Environment, and our international teams (US, Australia for example)
• We help our clients meet business objectives and contribute to nature policy through: environmental valuation, natural capital accounting, cost benefit analysis, informing environmental net gain and nature-based solution opportunities and funding and incentive design.
• This role provides an exciting opportunity to apply your natural capital skills and work on projects that make a difference by better integrating nature into strategy and decision-making.
Examples of recent and on-going projects:
• Developing catchment natural capital accounts for a water company.
• Developing a site-based natural capital account and analysis of investment scenarios to deliver best value for money of its natural assets.
• Providing advice and analysis for land-based carbon opportunities to meet business net zero commitments.
• Development of frameworks for integrating environmental and community impacts into an economic appraisal of electricity transmission options.
• Working with our digital team to develop a rapid natural capital assessment tool which includes valuation of 10 key ecosystem services.
• Developing a route map for green finance opportunities for a public sector organisation to better inform nature projects for funding and finance.
• Continuing to co-lead the Natural Capital Laboratory in its 5th year of operation which includes the on-going development of digital natural capital accounts