Carmichael UK – Job Opportunity
Job Title: Principal Ecologist
Location: Birmingham
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary / Rate: Up to £70k
About the Role
Carmichael UK is partnered with a Tier-1 contractor delivering a major infrastructure programme. We are recruiting for an experienced Principal Ecologist to lead ecological services across multiple construction sites in Birmingham, ensuring environmental compliance, providing technical leadership, and supporting project delivery.
As Principal Ecologist, you will:
Provide expert ecological and environmental advice to the project management, engineering, and site teams.
Lead design and implementation of ecological mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures.
Oversee ecological surveys, licensing, habitat creation, and species translocations.
Act as Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) or supervise ECoWs, ensuring monitoring, compliance and reporting.
Manage and mentor junior ecologists and provide technical quality assurance of ecological deliverables.
Liaise with statutory bodies, regulators, clients, and other stakeholders.
Ensure adherence to UK environmental legislation, biodiversity net gain, and company environmental policies.
Prepare environmental method statements, risk assessments, and ecological inputs to planning / consenting.
Person Specification / Requirements
Degree or higher qualification in Ecology, Environmental Science or related discipline.
Chartered or charterable ecologist status is preferred (e.g. CIEEM or equivalent).
Proven track record in delivering ecological services on major infrastructure / construction projects.
Experience as ECoW (Ecological Clerk of Works) or supervising ECoWs.
Strong knowledge of UK protected species, habitats, legislation (e.g. Wildlife & Countryside Act, Habitats Regulations, planning / consenting).
Excellent technical report writing skills and ability to present ecological advice to non-ecologists.
Ability to lead, manage and mentor ecological teams.
Comfortable with travel to multiple sites and occasional overnight stays.
Good interpersonal skills, stakeholder engagement capability, and ability to work within multidisciplinary teams