Associate Ecologist

Overview

You will lead the ecology team to enable sustainable infrastructure within the UK utilities sector. Working across land, planning, ecology and environmental planning, you will shape projects from permitting through to delivery. You’ll advise clients, negotiate with regulators, and develop innovative ecological solutions for Net Zero initiatives. This is a growth-focused role with opportunities to mentor, win work, and expand the team across the UK.

Pay / Benefits

• Annual bonus scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus birthday
• Vitality Health membership
• Flexible working through Flexible Advantage
• Pension scheme via The Peoples Pension
• Life insurance (4x base salary)

Responsibilities

• Author ecology reports (PEA, EcIA, EIA, HRA, BNG, LEMPs, CEMPs) and peer review where needed
• Coordinate with internal and external teams; advise clients and senior colleagues
• Negotiate with Natural England, County Ecologists, Local Authorities, and stakeholders
• Provide ecological input to development proposals, site location, and construction methodologies to secure consents
• Deliver ecological advice and mitigation for a range of sites and schemes (BNG, habitat creation, enhancement)
• Liaise with engineers, developers and landowners to facilitate development from ecological perspective
• Support unlocking utility projects on sensitive sites (SSSI, SAC, SPA, RAMSAR) including SSSI consents
• Contribute to Environmental Impact Assessment processes (screening, scoping, chapters)
• Lead preparation and completion of HRAs with limited input from others
• Travel to meetings, client offices, and site surveys across multiple projects
• Mentor junior team members and internally train staff
• Prepare fee proposals, bids, and manage project finances
• Lead and manage complex ecological projects within a diverse portfolio
• Design, procure and manage protected species surveys (botanical, bat, ornithological) and mitigation
• Complete ecological fieldwork to defined levels and standards

Key requirements

• BSc and/or MSc in Ecology or closely related subject
• Eligible for CIEEM membership
• Strong knowledge of UK planning system and environmental legislation
• Proficient in BNG assessments and Biodiversity Metric interpretation
• Strong communication and negotiation skills with clients and regulators
• Protected species survey licences (great crested newts and bats) desirable
• UK Habitat Classification and habitat condition assessment knowledge (FISC level 4 desirable)
• Experience designing ecological mitigation and habitat enhancement for BNG
• Ability to work independently and within a small expanding team
• Full UK driving license and willingness to travel for meetings and site surveys

• Strong communication
• Leadership and mentoring
• Stakeholder engagement
• BNG assessments
• EIA/HRA reporting and peer review
• Protected species surveys (bat, great crested newts)

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