Helen Mitchell
What employment sector do you work in?
Private Sector
How long have you had a green job for nature?
6 years
Please describe the work that you do.
I lead a team of 18 who provide logistical, financial and administrative support to our ecologists. My role is to make sure everything runs smoothly and to develop and refine the processes and procedures so that we are more effective and efficient. Much of my day is spent in conversation with others; providing support and encouragement, problem solving and making sure communication between all the disparate parts of the business is as effective as possible.
What do you most like about your job? Any dislikes?
I love the interaction with my team and the satisfaction of providing a good service. Although we are all remote workers, the collaboration is brilliant from both a professional and social perspective. We have grown together, introducing and refining new processes across the business, relieving the administrative burden that would otherwise be on our ecologists. I enjoy the challenge of developing new skills to meet the business need as my team takes on additional responsibilities. It makes me really happy that from a standing start, we now have a team of confident professionals who are really good at what they do and have fun doing it. And every day is different.
My only dislike, and it is inevitable when you work in ecology, is the pressure that we are under during the height of the survey season; everyone is so busy and mainly out on surveys so communication can be a challenge.
What inspired you into this career?
I haven’t ever really planned a career (perhaps more accurately my career has never gone to plan !). I moved to RSK Biocensus following 12 years in Special Educational needs, before which I had worked for many years in IT. This role appealed to me because it gave me opportunity to support the creation of a strong business infrastructure in a rapidly growing company. I was originally employed as a bid manager but as the company grew my responsibilities grew too, as did my team. Throughout my working life I have always enjoyed problem solving and enabling others to thrive and grow in their roles: leading my team provides me with all those things on a daily basis. It is also really satisfying to be part of something bigger and meaningful, looking after nature is probably the most important thing we can do for future generations.
Have you faced any challenges in progressing your career so far?
There is always a balance to be found between ambition and budget.
What education/training did you have?
I left education at 18 with qualifications in French, German, Latin and Economics but went to work in IT (long story!). Since then whilst also working, I completed lots of IT-related vocational courses, a counselling qualification, a teaching assistant qualification and a degree in Special Needs Education. Since joining RSK Biocensus I have formalised my experience in leadership and management and am now a member of the Institute of Leadership. But without doubt, the most useful and fascinating training I have received is all of the ecology knowledge I have acquired, both formally and informally, since working here. Working with professionals who are both expert in and enthusiastic about their subject, you can’t help but be drawn into the ecology world and I now look at the world around me in a different ( and more detailed) way.
What advice would you give to someone coming into the profession?
You can do it, so stick with it ! There will be some challenges at times and it may not be exactly as you envisioned but this is a worthwhile and ultimately satisfying and enjoyable sector to work within. There are some wonderfully passionate ecologists all around us, make the most of the opportunity to learn from them whenever it arises.
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Tags: England, Private sector, Project manager
Date profile submitted: 04/08/2025
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