Job description

Due to continued growth, an exciting opportunity for a Senior Ecologist has arisen. You will be working on schemes for clients primarily based across the Midlands, East and South East Anglia providing strategic advice to a well-established client base, particularly in the utilities and infrastructure sectors. No two days will be the same as you will be working on fast paced utility and infrastructure projects, reporting regularly to the client and liaising with colleagues, stakeholders and landowners to agree scope of work and manage ecological surveys and write and review reports and associated documents.

You will be confident in your ability to provide strategic advice to your clients and successfully deliver numerous projects with the support of a wider team. You will be able to give pragmatic advice, aware of current legislation and policy to provide appropriate assistance and advice to clients and colleagues.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

You will love working as a team player in a dynamic, fast-growing business. You'll have great verbal and written communication skills and you'll be ambitious to develop your career and join a business that is on an exciting journey, eager to work in a team where your qualities and abilities get noticed.

As a Senior Ecologist, you will be working on a whole range of schemes small through to large schemes. You will be expected to successfully manage any project through the full lifecycle, from pre-application to implementation and monitoring. The required skills and experience are:

• A degree in Ecology or related discipline, together with membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (ideally Associate or Full membership);
• At least five years' experience across a range of ecological disciplines including surveys/Ecological Clerk of Works, Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) and Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), protected species licensing, and protected sites consents (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Assents and Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA)). Experience in undertaking Biodiversity Net gain calculations is also desirable.
• Experience of producing ecological mitigation and enhancement strategies;
• Good knowledge of UK ecology and conservation: protected sites, habitats and species;
• Sound knowledge of UK nature conservation legislation, planning policy and processes;
• Knowledge and experience of working with GIS to record/manage ecological data and producing ecological survey plans;
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues as well as independently and to communicate effectively with a range of external stakeholders, clients and team members;
• Successful track record of delivering high quality technical work and written reports including PEA/EcIA and HRA;
• Proven track record in project management including managing budgets;
• Excellent people management skills including active listening skills;
• Confidence in developing and maintaining relationships with clients;
• Excellent report writing skills; and
• Supporting more junior staff, and appointing and coordinating sub-contractors.

Given the nature of the role a valid UK driving licence and a car (or access to a car) are essential, as is being able to prove you have the right to work in the UK. For further information, then please contact Barrie Dempster at ALLEN & YORK LTD on 01202 888986 ext 280 or email bdempster@allen-york.com