Biodiversity Specialist

About the roleAt the John Lewis Partnership we want to be one of the UK’s most purpose-led and sustainable businesses. Protecting and restoring nature is at the very heart of our approach to ethics and sustainability.

This role is responsible for supporting the delivery of the strategy for Ethics & Sustainability (E&S), through leading select initiatives, developing policies, horizon scanning, developing guidance for other teams, managing data and supporting the reporting and assurance process. You will use your expertise in biodiversity to engage with key stakeholders, enhancing and differentiating the Partnership’s position as a market leader in the protection and restoration of nature, and publicly representing the Partnership as required.

At a glance

• This position is a permanent contract.

• We know flexible working is important to you, and it is important to us too. The Partnership has adopted a hybrid working approach meaning you'll be able to work a mixture between the office and home based upon your personal needs whilst balancing the needs of the business. This role can be based at either our Pimlico or Bracknell Head Office, depending on your preference.

• Some travel to suppliers and on site projects will be required.

Key responsibilities 

What will you be doing? 

• Developing approaches and protocols to deliver on our ambitions to protect and restore biodiversity, including developing and delivering Science Based Targets for Nature (SBTN)

• Developing and deploying policy and standards to address issues relating to biodiversity loss in our supply chain

• Working with the technical, agriculture and responsible sourcing teams, suppliers, and other internal and external stakeholders to identify and pursue opportunities to ensure our biodiversity impacts are minimised

• Providing technical expertise and guidance on biodiversity to key internal and external stakeholders (Partners, suppliers and customers), acting as the Partnership’s supply chain biodiversity expert

• Leading specific projects and processes to address hotspots of biodiversity impact in our supply chain, for example by overseeing the development and implementation of ecological survey programmes, impact assessments and mitigation strategies

• Working with the agriculture and climate teams to develop approaches and protocols to protect and restore biodiversity on supply chain farms, and leading on specific biodiversity projects with suppliers

• Delivering reporting and assurance relating to biodiversity (e.g. TNFD, SBTN, Ethics & Sustainability disclosures)

• Ensuring that activity to tackle biodiversity impacts has integrity and impact and translates into customer and third party perceptions of the Partnership as a leader in the sectors in which it operates, in respect of biodiversity protection and restoration

Essential skills/experience you’ll need 

• Relevant Degree level qualification or relevant industry experience in one or more relevant areas of biodiversity / ecology

• Strong interest in and passion for biodiversity

• Experience in leading the delivery of successful strategic projects

• Good written and verbal communicator 

• Excellent organisational skills 

• Excellent IT and data management skills

• Strong attention to detail 

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Ecology-related qualification

• Knowledge of application of biodiversity in a retail context

Please note, internally this role is known as ‘Sustainability & Ethics Specialist’.

For internal use only: 

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About The Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting. If required, you’ll find out more about vetting throughout the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.