Job Description

The Earth, and every species on it, is facing a climate and ecological emergency. exists as a response to that emergency. We challenge and support organisations to take meaningful and effective action, and to become exemplars both in their industries and beyond. We help our clients to lead the change needed for a smooth transition to the low-carbon world, which we believe can be a better place.

Our work includes, but is not limited to: Carbon assessment and advice, focusing critically on supply chains; Big picture analysis, enabling organisations to understand where they fit into the global context and highlighting what they can do to help both humans and the environment thrive; Developing and implementing a robust ESG Assessment Framework for companies and investors that focuses on meaningful action to tackle the climate and ecological crisis; Food and Land Systems, advising on sustainable diets, menus, supermarket practices and land management, including ecologically sound and effective carbon removal; Communication, raising awareness of the climate emergency through talks, articles, book promotion and social media.

We say it like it is, we support our clients in facing every challenge, and we call out greenwash. We are a small company and every employee matters. As a team, we support each other to develop and thrive in a work environment founded on honesty, kindness and respect.

Preferred start date: ASAP but can be flexible

Type of contract: Permanent

Hours per week: 37.5 hrs per week

Location: Remotely (in the UK) and on the Lancaster University campus



The Role

You will be applying and developing our leading land use models to support and advise a wide range of clients. One of these models is an interactive client dashboard, which is in the process of being adopted by multiple , and , currently covering around 20% of the UK\'s land area. You will contribute to continuous updating of the models by adding new and better data, refining the modelling methodologies, and improving automation.

More widely, you will be helping us to fill a nationwide gap in robust and practical advice on sustainable land use practices. You will be helping to develop leading understanding of how the UK\'s land can best meet the joint needs of food production, climate, nature and livelihoods.

You will provide advice to clients on carbon reduction actions and targets, drawing on but not limited by roadmaps such as the Sixth Carbon Budget, national food strategies and nature recovery plans. A significant part of the target-setting will focus on assessing spatial land-based measures such as woodland creation, peatland restoration and regenerative agriculture.

You may also be providing supply chain carbon mapping services for clients across a wide range of sectors.

A good understanding of the climate and sustainability agenda is essential. Prior understanding of agricultural practices and broader land use issues is also desirable.

Main Duties:

• Work closely with the Landscape Project Lead to provide landscape-level carbon footprint estimates for a broad range of clients, using our in-house models.
• Contribute to understanding how the UK\'s land can best meet the joint needs of food production, climate, nature and livelihoods.
• Advise clients on landscape-level carbon-reduction actions and targets, and broader sustainable land management.
• Assist the Landscape Project Lead with assessing spatial land-based measures such as woodland creation, peatland restoration and regenerative agriculture.
• Contribute to the continued development of the in-house Python model and client dashboard for calculating landscape-specific carbon footprints.
• Support the wider team in developing, updating and evolving other in-house carbon assessment models and tools.
• Support the wider team in calculating business supply chain carbon emission estimates and helping clients to develop carbon-reduction targets and action plans.
• Undertake duties as delegated by the Landscape Project Lead to support client deliverables.
• Translate client needs into viable projects, and prepare proposals outlining company requirements and identified solutions to be developed by Small World Consulting.
• Use a collaborative approach to engage with clients, communicate results and develop decarbonisation targets.
• Contribute to the process of generating quotes for new and existing clients.
• Undertake the necessary administration duties for establishing contractual agreements with new and existing clients and for administration of invoices.
• Provide flexible support in the development of Small World Consulting as a business, which may also include the Director\'s extended roles as a published author, public speaker and Professor at Lancaster University.
• Support case study development and external communication of project success stories.
• Produce and deliver presentations to public, private and third sector organisations.
• Work collaboratively as part of a supportive team of industry specialists providing consulting services.

Person Specification

The Small World team cares deeply about the climate and ecological emergency. We speak our minds without compromise, but with respect and professionalism. In doing so we help our clients to gain perspective, make informed decisions, and acquire agency. We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds, and encourage creative freedom as well as more technical data analysis.

About you: You have strong quantitative skills and are passionate about using data and models to help a wide range of clients solve complex problems related to sustainability. You are able to work independently and use your initiative to solve problems, but will also seek advice when you need it. You have a keen eye for detail but will also be able to stand back and see the wider perspective.

You care about the quality and realism of your analysis and its ability to inform practical decision-making. You are excited about working in a sustainability consultancy that tries to get to the core of the issues and provides clarity where it has been lacking. You enjoy a collaborative working culture.

Criteria

Knowledge

• Educated to Master\'s level or higher in a STEM discipline (essential).
• Knowledge of current global issues: Climate Change/Net Zero, Sustainable Development Goals, Science-Based Targets, etc (essential).
• Educated to PhD level in a STEM discipline (desirable).
• Knowledge of land-based climate mitigation measures (woodland, peatland, regenerative agriculture) (desirable).

Skills

• Strong quantitative skills in the areas of model development and data analysis (essential).
• Good programming skills in Python (preferable) or R (essential).
• Advanced user of MS Excel and competent in Outlook, Word and PowerPoint (essential).
• Evidence of transferable skills for working across sectors, e.g. with small, medium and large businesses, public sector or academic settings (essential).
• Ability to develop new specialist competencies in carbon accounting required for specific projects and clients (essential).
• Ability to present information in an accurate and appropriate format, and to communicate effectively with a wide range of clients (essential).
• Familiarity with version control systems (git) and Python-based web apps (desirable).
• Willingness and ability to travel nationally to meetings and events on an occasional basis (desirable).

Experience

• Experience of developing models or data analysis tools, using Excel and/or programming languages (essential).
• Experience of programming in Python (preferable) or R (essential).
• Experience of working to deadlines and under one\'s own initiative, managing a project from start to finish, and delivering against targets (essential).
• Experience of working in an office environment and undertaking various administrative tasks to a high standard (desirable).
• Experience of carbon accounting methods (desirable).
• Experience of working as a consultant (desirable).

Life in Lancaster

Our offices are based in Lancaster Environment Centre on the Lancaster University campus. The campus is on the outskirts of town on the edge of the countryside, with a regular bus service and cycle routes to Lancaster city centre, and parking available.

Lancaster is a small city about an hour North-West of Manchester, just off the M6. It has good rail and motorway connections, with a West Coast Mainline train station enabling direct train journeys of around 2h30 to London and around 2h to Edinburgh and Glasgow. There are local lines providing transport to Manchester in 1h, Liverpool in 1h30, Leeds and Birmingham in 2h and Windermere in 40 mins.

A big draw for many of our staff is the proximity to breathtaking countryside - with the fells of the Forest of Bowland AONB a few miles away, the coast of Morecambe Bay nearby, and the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks about 40 minutes away.

As a city, Lancaster is lively with a good pub and coffee shop scene, several annual music festivals, a pretty canal through the centre, and a medieval castle and Victorian park on the hills either side of the centre.

The full job description can be found on the Small World Consulting

If you would like to apply for this role, please send your CV and a cover letter to by 10pm Sunday March 3rd 2024.

Please note: The Employment & Recruitment Service is advertising on behalf of an external company not affiliated with Lancaster University.

Adverts that display a closing date should be treated as a guide. We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.

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