Ecologist/ Senior Ecologist

Ecologist/ Senior Ecologist

Your role

• Providing ecological input to a varied range of projects across different sectors, including leading on infrastructure projects, managing project programmes and budgets.
• Undertaking the role of Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) on large and significant design and build projects covering a range of ecological constraints, providing tool‑box talks, monitoring compliance with planning conditions, protected species licences and method statements.
• Planning, coordinating and undertaking field surveys; analysing and interpreting survey results.
• Collaborating with our multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Designing and co‑ordinating ecological mitigation.
• Authoring and checking a range of ecological reports and licence applications.
• Managing work enquiries, preparing bids and building client relationships
• Candidate will actively identify, raise, manage and mitigate risks, particularly within a Project/Framework environment.
• Candidate will proactively provide innovation on projects and within the ecology team.

About you

• A degree in ecology or life sciences or closely related field.
• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), or equivalent. AtkinsRéalis to cover membership costs.
• Strong understanding of UK wildlife legislation.
• Strong protected species survey/field identification skills, including demonstrable competency to capable level in line with CIEEM's Competency Framework to lead protected species surveys is essential.
• Ideally Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) Level 3, or above, or be able to demonstrate that skills are equivalent to this.
• Experience of implementing and monitoring ecological mitigation on site, during construction (e.g. translocations, watching briefs, exclusion zones, habitat protection measures).
• Ability to act as a first point of contact for contractors and advise on ecological risk during construction and deliver practical and proportionate mitigation solutions in line with nature conservation legislation.
• Strong skills in report writing and record keeping, including preparing Preliminary Ecological Assessments, Ecological Impact Assessments, site visit reports and compliance audit trails.
• Protected species survey licence(s) are desirable but not essential, a NatureScot bat licenced ecologist is particularly desirable. Demonstrable experience of working under protected species licences for development either as the ecologist overseeing the works or operating under the instruction of named licence holder is beneficial.
• Strong collaborative behaviours to interface with multi‑disciplinary teams, market teams, and other stakeholders.
• An understanding of requirement for biodiversity enhancements in line with National Planning Framework 4, and able to demonstrate awareness of the key principals is desirable. Must be able to distinguish and determine between enhancements and compensation and advise on construction of these elements and programme timing.
• Ability and willingness to travel for to site across Scotland, including a full UK/EEC driving licence.

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