Your new company An independent multidisciplinary ecological consultancy committed to balancing nature conservation with client needs. Their work spans a wide variety of ecological surveys across Central and Eastern England, alongside arboricultural consultancy and practical habitat creation and management. They pride themselves on their strong conservation ethos, choosing projects that align with their values, as well as small and larger scale infrastructure projects. Your new role As a Senior Ecologist, you will manage a variety of projects, provide technical leadership, and oversee survey work, reporting, and client engagement. Key Responsibilities: Acting as lead ecologist on complex projects, undertaking and managing a range of ecological surveys, including UKHab, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), and protected species surveys Project management of medium to large-scale projects, including quoting, surveying, reporting, and invoicing. Preparing and reviewing ecological reports and plans, ensuring high-quality outputs from Junior and Consultant Ecologists. Liaising with clients to discuss project proposals and ecological findings, as well as engaging with statutory bodies when required. Designing and implementing mitigation strategies for protected species. Writing and reviewing health and safety risk assessments and method statements (RAMS). Managing teams, overseeing staff performance, mentoring junior ecologists, and leading field survey teams when necessary. Preparing protected species mitigation licences, particularly for bats and great crested newts. Supporting the preparation of Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRAs) with guidance from senior staff. Carrying out Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) supervision. Conducting bat call analysis and producing high-quality habitat maps using GIS (e.g., QGIS) What you'll need to succeed A minimum of three years' professional ecological consultancy experience. A BSc/MSc (or equivalent) in ecology, environmental science, or a related field. Strong project management, organisational, and report writing skills. Experience producing habitat maps using GIS (e.g., QGIS). Strong botanical skills. A thorough understanding of best practice survey techniques and field skills for commonly encountered protected species (e.g., water voles, bats, great crested newts, reptiles, badgers). Hold a GCN and bat survey licence. Experience managing teams and conducting staff performance and development reviews. Experience applying for badger sett closure licences. Full CIEEM membership. A full UK driving licence and access to transport. What you'll get in return £250-£350 per day DOE Flexible working Experience of UK-Wide significant projects Ongoing support from an experienced environmental recruitment team What you need to do now If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career. Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at (url removed)