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):
A competitive basic salary
Generous annual leave entitlement
Flexible working opportunities, including Time off in Lieu (TOIL)
A collaborative working environment, and access to a range of high-end projects
Accredited professional training programmes
Extensive career progression opportunities
Responsibilities for the role of Principal Ecologist include:
Leading complex, high-profile projects across the ecology sector, to include renewable energy, residential, and commercial work across the East of England
Authoring and peer-reviewing ecological reports, including Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA), and Environmental Statement (ES) Ecology Chapters
Line managing, supporting, and mentoring colleagues within the Ecology Team
Working collaboratively with other ecologists across a wide range of projects
Engaging with clients and stakeholders, including Local Authorities and other public and private bodies
Completing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Assessments, interpreting and evaluating the data across the Biodiversity Metric, delivering practical solutions to clientele
Managing projects, including the preparation of fee proposals and tenders
Ensuring projects are successfully completed within the agreed budgets and timeframes
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:
Hold a Bachelor's/Master's Degree (or equivalent qualification) in Ecology or a similar, relevant discipline
Have a full Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)
Possess a minimum of one Protected Species Survey Licence
Good working knowledge of the relevant planning systems/procedures and environmental legislation across the UK
Competent and confident in working with UK Habitat Classification and Habitat Condition Assessments
Experienced in designing and carrying out a number of ecology surveys, utilising findings to inform ecological assessments, delivering practical solutions to clientele
Demonstrable experience in designing and delivering ecological mitigation, including Protected Species Licensing, and Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW)
Excellent time management skills
Outstanding communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
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:
Hold Protected Species Survey Licences for bats and great crested newts
Possess a Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) Level 4
Have a willingness to stay overnight at some sites across the East of England region
If you are interested in the role of Principal Ecologist, please do not hesitate to contact the Ecology Team at Penguin Recruitment. Please also see our website for a range of other roles currently available. This is a permanent role. Penguin Recruitment is operating as a recruitment agency in respect to this vacancy