Job Title: Senior/Principal Ecologist
Salary: £35,000 - £50,000
Location: Leicestershire / Hybrid
The Role of experienced Senior/Principal Ecologist
We have an exciting opportunity to join our clients expanding team. With a minimum of 5 years' experience within an ecological consultancy you will be working as a senior member of a growing ecology team. You will have a proven track record of day-to-day project management, as well as extensive experience of the full project lifecycle, including large, complex projects. You will be well-grounded in the principles of ecology and be willing and able to impart that knowledge to nurture, mentor and develop your team. Good communication skills and excellent time management are essential elements of this key role. You must be confident in your abilities, be a team player, and be proactive and pragmatic in your approach to ecological solutions.
Main Duties
- Proactive planning and co-ordinating of the ecology team to deliver a busy survey programme.
- Providing ecological advice and understanding scope of works.
- Involvement in bidding and tendering; Preparation of fee proposals,
- Managing and delivering projects of varying size, on time and in-budget.
- Building and maintaining strong client relationships.
- Facilitating and undertaking field surveys, as necessary.
- Mentoring and developing the ecology team.
- Preparing scientific technical reports including EcIAs; and designing and preparing effective species mitigation proposals and management plans.
- Preparation of EPS licence applications and Biodiversity Net Gain assessments
- Critically reviewing and checking technical reports from other staff members
Other essential skills & experience that we are looking for in a candidate are:
- An honours/master's degree in ecology or closely related field;
- Full member of CIEEM (MCIEEM)
- Holder of protected species class licences (level 2 bat licence and level 1 GCN licence is essential).
- Named ecologist/accredited agent on European protected species mitigation licenses
- Experience of undertaking a range of habitat and protected species surveys including extended phase 1 habitat surveys to inform BNG assessments, botanical surveys including Phase 2 and National Vegetation Classification (NVC) surveys and phase 2 protected species surveys in accordance with recognised best practice guidelines;
- Confident in liaising directly with clients, local planning authorities, Natural England and subcontractors whilst demonstrating excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills;
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of European and national nature conservation legislation and UK planning policy;
- Attention to detail and excellent organisational abilities.
- Hold a CSCS Card
- Full current UK driving licence.
In return, the successful candidate can expect to receive several benefits including:
- Competitive salary;
- Company Vehicle
- Flexible home/ office working arrangements;
- Flexible TOIL Scheme;
- Payment of professional membership fees;
- The opportunity to work in a positive, friendly working environment with a small team of passionate, good humoured and like-minded individuals
