Job Title: Principal Ecologist
Ref. No.: CJD12025K
Location: Norwich
Salary: £43,000 – £53,000
This is an excellent opportunity to join my client, a large, highly-respected multidisciplinary consultancy, lending their expertise to a diverse range of projects across the ecological landscape. My client is seeking an experienced, passionate Principal Ecologist, willing to take on challenging projects alongside an expanding team of consultants, across the renewable energy, residential, commercial, and infrastructure landscapes, based in the culturally-vibrant, historical city of Norwich.
Benefits for the role of Principal Ecologist (but are not limited to):
1. A competitive basic salary
2. Generous annual leave entitlement
3. Flexible working opportunities, including Time off in Lieu (TOIL)
4. A collaborative working environment, and access to a range of high-end projects
5. Accredited professional training programmes
6. Extensive career progression opportunities
Responsibilities for the role of Principal Ecologist include:
7. Leading complex, high-profile projects across the ecology sector, to include renewable energy, residential, and commercial work across the East of England
8. Authoring and peer-reviewing ecological reports, including Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA), and Environmental Statement (ES) Ecology Chapters
9. Line managing, supporting, and mentoring colleagues within the Ecology Team
10. Working collaboratively with other ecologists across a wide range of projects
11. Engaging with clients and stakeholders, including Local Authorities and other public and private bodies
12. Completing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Assessments, interpreting and evaluating the data across the Biodiversity Metric, delivering practical solutions to clientele
13. Managing projects, including the preparation of fee proposals and tenders
14. Ensuring projects are successfully completed within the agreed budgets and timeframes
15. Designing and implementing Ecological Mitigation Strategies, including Mitigation Licences for a range of endangered species (chiefly bats, dormice, water voles, badgers, and great crested newts)
Required skills and experience for the role of Principal Ecologist include:
16. Hold a Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree (or equivalent qualification) in Ecology or a similar, relevant discipline
17. Have a full Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)
18. Possess a minimum of one Protected Species Survey Licence
19. Good working knowledge of the relevant planning systems/procedures and environmental legislation across the UK
20. Competent and confident in working with UK Habitat Classification and Habitat Condition Assessments
21. Experienced in designing and carrying out a number of ecology surveys, utilising findings to inform ecological assessments, delivering practical solutions to clientele
22. Demonstrable experience in designing and delivering ecological mitigation, including Protected Species Licensing, and Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW)
23. Excellent time management skills
24. Outstanding communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
25. Hold a full, valid UK driving licence (with Business Insurance), with a willingness to travel to various regional sites
Desirable skills and experience for the role of Principal Ecologist include:
26. Hold Protected Species Survey Licences for bats and great crested newts
27. Possess a Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) Level 4
28. Have a willingness to stay overnight at some sites across the East of England region