* Principal Consultant/Technical Director – Fisheries & Aquaculture – MRAG
Principal Consultant/Technical Director – Fisheries & Aquaculture
Location: London, UK
Working hours: Full-time
Salary and terms: Salary will be competitive, reflect our London base, and commensurate with the level of experience of the candidate appointed. Benefits include a contributory pension scheme, life assurance and Paycare medical benefits.
Closing date: The position will remain open until filled
MRAG Limited is a leading environmental consultancy dedicated to the sustainable management of aquatic living resources, in particular fisheries and aquaculture. As a leader in this field, MRAG has a long and highly productive history of designing and implementing integrated resource management systems in marine, estuarine, riverine and floodplain environments. For over 30 years MRAG has worked in more than 60 countries for a wide range of clients, including Defra, Marine Management Organisation, Natural England, World Bank, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, European Commission, United Nations Development Program, non-governmental organizations, and private sector companies.
With more than 30 full-time specialists, MRAG offers excellent career opportunities for further personal development and mentoring. This includes active engagement in one or more in-house technical working groups on statistical analysis and modelling, GIS mapping and analyses, and data management, as well as participating in national and international events.
We are currently looking to recruit an experienced consultant at Principal/Technical Director level to support our current London-based team of highly skilled full-time consultants with ongoing projects and development of new opportunities.
Your Role at MRAG
We are currently seeking a Principal Consultant or Technical Director, to take responsibility for significant areas of the business, and for the full project cycle. A Principal Consultant should have a minimum of 8 years’ experience in consultancy, with a wide geographical experience in fisheries and aquaculture with an established network of contacts.
The role requires the ability to work autonomously where needed but with an awareness of and to be integrated into the business. You will have a proven track record in managing complex, multi-country projects and delivering high-quality technical outputs. Experience working with international donors, governments, or NGOs is highly desirable.
You should bring deep technical expertise in areas such as stock assessment, aquaculture systems, marine resource management, or fisheries policy. Further to this, strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential, along with the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, oversee project delivery, and ensure technical, financial, and timeline compliance. Experience in mentoring junior staff, producing high-quality technical reports, and presenting findings to clients or stakeholders is expected.
Excellent communication, leadership, and client engagement skills are vital. You should have experience in business development, including preparing successful funding proposals and identifying new project opportunities. A proactive and strategic mindset, along with the willingness to travel internationally, is essential for the role.
In addition, as a Technical Director, new business development is a central responsibility, including leading business development themes, producing high-quality tender submissions, and identifying strategic opportunities for growth. The role demands active participation in project meetings and awareness of key company projects, while ensuring technical excellence, quality management, and delivery to tight deadlines across multiple concurrent projects. Beyond project delivery, the role plays a key part in strategic company leadership. This includes implementing company policy as directed by the Board, contributing to strategic planning, and ensuring adherence to project systems, tools, and ISO standards. The position also includes line management and mentoring responsibilities, helping to identify training needs, support staff development, and assist with recruitment to build an effective, skilled team.
Qualifications and Experience
* Post-graduate degree in marine biology, fisheries science or another relevant subject.
* Experience managing the full project cycle, including contractual and budgeting aspects.
* Proven experience in new business development and a network of relevant contacts.
* Experience leading and managing project teams.
* Excellent written, presentation and quantitative analytic skills, with a track record of producing high quality outputs.
* Broad geographically experience in projects related to fisheries and aquaculture.
* Strong communication skills, both within teams and with client and project partners. Additional languages are desirable but not essential.
* Ability to multitask across several projects, often to tight deadlines.
* Knowledge of fisheries and climate change, ecosystem approach to fisheries management, the blue economy or marine spatial planning would be desirable, but not essential.
The position will remain open until filled
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