Graduate Soil Scientist

Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

11/25/2024

Following its recent acquisition by SLR, Wardell Armstrong forms part of a leading global environmental and sustainability consultancy working on projects across the world from over 100 offices. Starting as a UK business in 1994, SLR now operates as a global company with more than 3,500 people, delivering client-focused solutions across Europe, North America, Pacific Asia and Africa. Throughout this time SLR has strived to grow both organically and through welcoming other like-minded businesses, such as Wardell Armstrong, into its "One Team" of talented consultants. In doing so, its core objective is to assist clients and colleagues alike in "Making Sustainability Happen".

The Opportunity

We are looking to recruit a motivated and ambitious Graduate / Post Graduate Soil Scientist to join our expanding Soils team that provides specialist advice on agriculture, soils, and peat. The role will be based in our Cardiff office. Post graduate research in soils science and a detailed knowledge of field survey techniques is desirable although not essential as full training will be provided. You will be involved in a wide range of projects across all our business sectors including energy, infrastructure, mineral extraction, forestry, residential and commercial development, and waste resource management. Our projects are located throughout the UK. We therefore require a dedicated and enthusiastic Soil Scientist with a strong aptitude for hard work, excellent communication skills and a willingness to develop their skills and abilities within this busy team. The role will involve periods of lone-working and will require frequent travel throughout the UK.

Responsibilities:

In this exciting role as a junior member of the team, you will be:

• Working on site carrying out soil surveys
• Commissioning soil tests with relevant laboratories
• Processing samples to send to laboratories and receiving the results back
• Managing data to support technical reporting
• Writing interpretative reports including soil resource survey reports, soil management plans, and agricultural land classification reports
• Assisting more senior team members with the planning, organisation, and site work for soil surveys and site monitoring visits
• Working closely with colleagues to provide soils input to multi-disciplinary projects
• Liaising with clients, landowners, contractors, statutory authorities and third parties
• Develop skills with a view of registration with a professional body if not already e.g The Institution of Environmental Sciences or British Society Soil Science
  
  

The successful candidate will be qualified with BSc or equivalent in a relevant discipline (Soil Science, Environmental Science, Agricultural Science, Horticultural Science, Geography etc) and ideally Postgraduate qualification in Soil Science, or a related degree with relevant postgraduate experience

Skills Required

• Awareness of environmental issues and the role soils play in the environment
• Knowledge of field survey techniques
• A good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Adobe
• Willingness to travel to sites across the UK as and when required
  
  
  

Desirable

• Practical experience of field survey techniques
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, technical guidance, and codes of practice
• Work experience within the industry
• Knowledge of EIA methodology for the preparation of Environmental Statements
• Knowledge of agricultural drainage, forestry operations, peatland restoration, construction, farming, and construction operations including earthworks
• An interest in the role of soil carbon in climate change mitigation
• Good understanding of legislation and policy
• Knowledge of AutoCAD
• GIS experience
  
  
  

We offer:

• Competitive salary, commensurate with experience and qualifications
• Membership of the Firm's Group Personal Pension Plan, with Employer's contribution of up to 5%
• Payment of a relevant professional subscription
• 24 days annual leave per year
• Membership to the Firm's Private Health Care Scheme
• Inclusion in the Firm's Critical Illness Cover Policy
• Inclusion in the Firm's Life Assurance Policy, insuring you 3 times your annual salary
• Mobile Phone with inclusive tariff including personal usage
• Hybrid working
• Flexi-Time Working Schedule
• Long service awards
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Travel Loans
• Recruitment Bounty Scheme