Job description

Head of Ecology
Bury St Edmunds
Up to £65,000 + car allowance
An independent, design-led environmental consultancy is looking for a Head of Ecology to lead and shape its ecology offering at a strategic level. This is a senior role with real influence, focused on planning ecology, Biodiversity Net Gain and integrated design, rather than day-to-day survey delivery.
You will act as the driving force behind ecology within the business, guiding projects from early feasibility through to consent and implementation. Working closely with landscape architects, planners and engineers, you will ensure ecology is embedded into design thinking from the outset, delivering solutions that are commercially sound, policy-aligned and genuinely workable.
The position blends technical leadership with a strong commercial edge. You will take ownership of planning ecology strategy in line with the NPPF, oversee BNG delivery across a range of schemes, and provide high-level input into HRA processes where required. Alongside this, you will lead on client relationships, convert opportunities into work, and grow a sustainable and profitable pipeline.
Internally, you will build and mentor a small but growing team, setting standards, shaping ways of working and creating a culture that values quality, pragmatism and collaboration. This is an opportunity to define how ecology is delivered within a multidisciplinary environment, with the autonomy to influence both projects and people.
The role will suit an experienced consultant with a strong grounding in UK planning policy, BNG and development-led ecology, who enjoys working at the intersection of strategy, design and delivery. You will be comfortable advising clients, leading teams and making commercial decisions, while maintaining a clear focus on proportionate, outcome-driven ecology.
A degree in a relevant discipline and membership of CIEEM (or working towards chartership) are expected, alongside a solid track record in consultancy. In return, you will join a close-knit, ambitious practice where ecology is central to the conversation, not an afterthought.
About us: Allen & York have been matching purposeful people with purpose-led organisations for 30 years. We partner with our clients and candidates on roles that build an understanding of climate change, promote sustainability and create inclusive and responsible organisations, working towards a sustainable world for us all. Committed to inclusiveness in the workplace, we aim to increase diversity across all areas and therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, or whether or not they have a disability. Let's help build a better world, together.