East Midlands Environmental Consultants (EMEC Ecology) is a purpose-driven ecological consultancy wholly owned by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Since 1991, EMEC has combined professional consultancy expertise with a deep commitment to nature, providing specialist ecology, land management and arboriculture services to clients across sectors.
As a business with a strong sense of social purpose, EMEC operates through a Profit with Purpose model, reinvesting profits to fund wildlife conservation across the region.
Context.
EMEC Ecology was entering a new chapter of growth, expanding its client base and deepening its impact across the environmental sector. To continue delivering exceptional results and maintain a thriving, values-led culture, the organisation needed to strengthen its senior leadership team.
The organisation sought to appoint a new Consultancy Director, a pivotal leadership role responsible for driving operational delivery, strengthening systems, and supporting EMEC’s continued growth and impact for nature and people.
Brief.
They were looking for an experienced and ambitious operational leader with a strong track record in managing teams, systems and organisational performance. Someone who is a confident and adaptable leader, capable of managing remotely, supporting dispersed teams and creating a positive and accountable culture. They needed to combine strategic insight with a hands-on approach to delivery and performance.
Ultimately, this role would help shape EMEC’s future direction, working at the intersection of commercial consultancy and environmental purpose, and contribute directly to the work of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Outcome.
Following a targeted and inclusive search, we received 42 applications for the position, with a strong set of candidates bringing a wide breadth of leadership experience and sector backgrounds.
The successful candidate is an accomplished senior leader with global experience in the international development and conservation sector. They had extensive experience in complex operational and strategic environments, spanning international programmes and large, multidisciplinary teams.
Motivated by EMEC’s mission and its role within the wider Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust family, they were keen to bring their operational expertise, governance experience and passion for conservation to help drive the organisation’s next phase of growth.
“It was a pleasure to work with Peridot. They ran the recruitment process very professionally and with a human touch, provided clear and helpful insights and guidance and helped us to cast the net much further and wider than we could have done on our own, resulting in a strong set of potential candidates who were capable of fulfilling our needs.”
Paul Wilkinson, CEO, EMEC Ecology
“Peridot Partners, and Todd in particular, were excellent throughout this recruitment process. They were really responsive and informative. In particular, their understanding of their client helped me prepare for the interviews and understand the process at every step. Having conducted a lot of recruitment myself in the past, I was really impressed at how they managed me as an applicant and ensured they got the best out of me in the interests of their client.”
Appointed candidate.
