An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Lead Agricultural Soils Specialist to join a major infrastructure programme delivering one of Europe’s largest and most complex projects, based in Birmingham, England. As the subject matter expert for all matters relating to the excavation, handling, storage, and reinstatement of agricultural soils, you will provide technical leadership, assurance, and guidance — working closely with the Head of Natural Environment to ensure industry best practice and the highest environmental standards are achieved throughout delivery.
About the Programme — Major UK Infrastructure
Scale: One of Europe’s largest and most complex infrastructure programmes — a landmark UK project of national significance
Location: Birmingham, England — a central hub for this major infrastructure delivery programme
Team: Working closely with the Head of Natural Environment and cross-functional project delivery teams
Supply Chain: Providing technical assurance and guidance to supply chain partners implementing agricultural soils best practice
Standards: Industry best practice and high environmental standards across all soil handling, storage, and reinstatement activities
Role Scope — Lead Agricultural Soils Specialist
Soils Lead: Subject matter expert for all agricultural soils matters — excavation, handling, storage, and reinstatement across the programme
Technical Standards: Develop and maintain technical standards, specifications, and guidance notes for soil management across the programme
ALC Surveys: Experience in Agricultural Land Classification surveys — assessing and documenting the quality and agricultural value of land affected
Soil Resource Plans: Developing Soil Resource Plans to protect, manage, and restore agricultural soils across the construction corridor
Continuous Improvement: Promote quality standards and continuous improvement across all agriculture, forestry, and soils management activities
Position Overview
This Lead Agricultural Soils Specialist role is a technically demanding and professionally prestigious position within one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure delivery programmes. As the programme’s subject matter expert for agricultural soils, you will hold genuine technical authority — developing standards, providing assurance, reviewing analyses, and guiding delivery teams and supply chain partners on all aspects of soil excavation, handling, storage, and reinstatement.
Working closely with the Head of Natural Environment, you will operate at the intersection of environmental science, agricultural best practice, and large-scale infrastructure delivery — ensuring that one of Europe’s most complex projects meets the highest standards for soil stewardship and agricultural land protection. For soil scientists and agricultural soils specialists with major project experience, this is a career-defining opportunity in Birmingham in 2026.
Why This Role Matters: Agricultural soils are among the UK’s most precious and irreplaceable natural resources — and when major infrastructure projects are delivered without expert soil management, the consequences for agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and drainage can last for generations. The Lead Agricultural Soils Specialist is the professional who ensures this doesn’t happen — setting the standards, providing the assurance, and driving the best practice that protects agricultural land for farmers, communities, and future generations across the programme corridor.
Key Responsibilities in Full
Technical Leadership & Standards
- Lead on all agricultural soils activities across the programme — acting as the sole subject matter expert and technical authority for all matters relating to the excavation, handling, storage, and reinstatement of agricultural soils.
- Develop and maintain technical standards, specifications, and guidance notes for agricultural soils management — ensuring that all programme activities are governed by clear, scientifically grounded, and practically applicable standards.
- Provide technical assurance relating to agricultural soil handling and reinstatement across the programme — reviewing plans, inspecting activities, and confirming compliance with established standards and best practice guidelines.
- Promote continuous improvement and quality standards across all agriculture, forestry, and soils management activities — identifying opportunities to enhance practice, reduce risk, and improve environmental outcomes throughout delivery.
Delivery Support & Supply Chain Guidance
- Support project delivery teams and supply chain partners in implementing best practice for agricultural soil management — providing practical guidance, technical advice, and on-site support as required.
- Undertake technical reviews, analysis, and reporting to support programme decision-making — delivering clear, evidence-based assessments of soil management performance and compliance.
- Identify root causes of issues through research, investigation, and measurement — applying systematic analytical approaches to resolve soil-related challenges that arise during construction and reinstatement.
- Support agriculture, forestry, and soils management activities on major infrastructure works — contributing specialist expertise to complex, multi-disciplinary project delivery teams.
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
- Engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders — including technical specialists, delivery teams, regulators, and landowners — communicating complex soil science concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Work closely with the Head of Natural Environment — providing technical leadership, strategic guidance, and programme-wide oversight of all agricultural soils matters.
About You — Required Experience & Qualifications
Professional Membership & Qualifications
- Membership of the British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) — or equivalent professional experience at a recognized level in agricultural soils science or land management
- Strong academic or professional background in soil science, agricultural land management, environmental science, or a closely related discipline
Technical Experience
- Extensive experience as an Agricultural Soils subject matter expert — with a proven track record of providing technical leadership on soil-related matters within major projects or large organizations
- Strong understanding of soil handling and restoration processes on major infrastructure projects — including topsoil stripping, subsoil handling, storage mound management, and agricultural reinstatement
- Experience undertaking Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) surveys — assessing and documenting land quality and agricultural value across construction corridors
- Experience developing Soil Resource Plans for major infrastructure projects — planning soil protection, management, storage, and reinstatement to protect agricultural land quality
- Proven experience leading agriculture, forestry, and soils management within a major project or large organization — managing delivery teams and supply chain partners effectively
Key Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills — with the ability to interpret technical soil data and provide evidence-based assurance and recommendations
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills — able to influence and advise effectively across technical, commercial, and regulatory audiences
- Ability to develop technical standards and specifications that are both scientifically rigorous and practically deliverable within complex project environments
Why This Is One of the UK’s Most Significant Environmental Career Opportunities in 2026
Major infrastructure projects of this scale are generational — and the agricultural soils lead role within such a programme is a once-in-a-career opportunity to apply the highest levels of soil science expertise on a stage that will define UK infrastructure delivery practice for decades. The environmental legacy of how agricultural soils are managed during major construction works — and how well they are restored afterward — will be felt by farmers, communities, and ecosystems across the project corridor for generations.
For agricultural soils specialists who want their expertise to genuinely matter — at a scale, with an impact, and in a professional environment that matches their ambition — this Lead Agricultural Soils Specialist role in Birmingham represents one of the most meaningful and professionally significant career opportunities available in the UK environmental sector in 2026.
Who Should Apply?
- Agricultural Soils Subject Matter Experts: With BSSS membership and extensive experience leading soil management on major UK infrastructure programmes
- ALC Survey Specialists: With hands-on experience conducting Agricultural Land Classification surveys and developing Soil Resource Plans for large-scale land works
- Environmental / Soils Consultants: With major infrastructure project experience seeking a senior in-programme lead role in Birmingham
- Agriculture & Forestry Management Leads: From infrastructure, utilities, or public sector programmes with soil science expertise and team leadership experience
- Technical Assurance Specialists: With soil science backgrounds who have provided quality assurance and technical review on major civil engineering or infrastructure projects
- UK-Based Soil Scientists: Willing to work in Birmingham on one of Europe’s most significant and professionally rewarding infrastructure programmes
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