We are seeking enthusiastic, skilled and highly motivated Senior Ecologists to join our award-winning consultancy, based in either our Haywards Heath or Portsmouth office. You will work across a diverse portfolio of projects involving habitat creation, river restoration, natural flood management, Biodiversity Net Gain assessment, ecological impact assessment and protected species surveys. Working closely with engineering, geomorphology, heritage and landscape specialists, you will help deliver nature-based solutions that restore natural processes, enhance biodiversity and build resilience to climate change. As an employee-owned organisation, we invest in professional development, encourage innovation, support collaboration and empower staff to deliver high-quality technical work that benefits clients, communities and the natural environment. In joining our team, you will contribute to purposeful, environmentally driven projects and help shape positive outcomes for future landscapes. Our people are all important and we invest heavily in life‑long learning and skills development. We support hybrid working which provides for greater flexibility with the way that we work. We are always on the lookout for talented, committed and inspiring people to join us in our ambition to lead in the pursuit for resilience to climate change. In return, we offer rewarding careers with continued opportunities and dedicated support for personal development. Build your career with us and help us to build a more resilient future.
Responsibilities
* Designing, organising and delivering ecological surveys across a range of habitats
* Leading health & safety planning and ensuring high fieldwork standards
* Undertaking habitat and protected species surveys
* Analysing ecological data and preparing high-quality technical reports
* Producing PEAs, EcIAs, HRAs and BNG assessments
* Providing technical review, support and quality assurance across the team
* Mentoring early-career ecologists and supporting skills development
* Managing projects, programmes, budgets and client communication
* Building and maintaining strong client relationships
* Supporting tender preparation and wider business development activity
This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of ecological decision‑making, influence the direction of complex projects and contribute to innovative, nature‑based design. You will play an important part in shaping high‑quality environmental outcomes and supporting the continued growth and development of our ecology team. You will also help strengthen our technical capability, contribute to internal knowledge sharing and collaborate in refining our approaches as we continue to expand our portfolio of environmentally focused projects across the region.
Qualifications
* A BSc and/or MSc (or equivalent) in Ecology or a related environmental discipline
* Full or eligible membership of CIEEM, with chartership desirable
* Solid experience in ecological consultancy across varied project types and sectors
* Strong technical field skills across multiple taxa and experience applying recognised, up-to‑date survey methods
* Ideally at least one protected species licence, such as for bats or water vole, enabling you to lead specialist surveys
* A thorough understanding of UK wildlife legislation, planning policy, the Habitats Regulations and national best‑practice guidance
* Proven experience producing robust technical outputs including PEAs, EcIAs, HRAs and BNG assessments across different project stages
* Ability to work independently, collaborate within multidisciplinary teams and manage competing priorities across project workloads in a fast‑paced environment
Essential attributes
* Strong ecological field skills across relevant taxa, with confidence applying established and emerging survey techniques
* Experience designing, coordinating and managing ecological surveys across a range of project types
* Ability to analyse data and produce clear and robust technical reports
* Demonstrated experience developing, implementing and managing ecological mitigation measures on complex projects
* Strong project management and business development capability, including planning, budgeting and client liaison
* Effective communication, coordination and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to support colleagues and contribute to project decisions
* Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary project teams and adapt to changing project requirements
* Ability to undertake sometimes physically challenging fieldwork
* Willingness to travel for fieldwork and stay overnight when required
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