Job description

Senior Ecologist - Habitat Restoration

Location: East Anglia / East Midlands
Department: Ecology
Package: Competitive
We are seeking an experienced Senior Ecologist to join our team, providing ecological consultancy and habitat restoration services across East Anglia and the East Midlands. The role involves delivering expert support in botany, hydrology, and terrestrial ecology, working with both existing and new clients. Responsibilities include conducting botanical and vegetation surveys, UK Habitats surveys, and Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, including mapping and report writing. The role also requires undertaking land-based surveys covering hydrology, soils, and topography to inform habitat restoration design, coordinating and providing Ecological Clerk of Works supervision, and responding to environmental incidents with the fieldwork needed to produce professional ecological impact assessments and reports.
The successful candidate will advise clients and internal teams on potential ecological impacts and restoration opportunities, contributing specialist input within multidisciplinary teams. They will support the preparation and review of Water & Ecology reports, monitoring strategies, and protocols, while mentoring and developing staff in fieldwork techniques, identification skills, analytical thinking, and report writing, with potential line management responsibilities. The role also includes sharing knowledge and best practices across the team, supporting business development through marketing, quotations, and tender submissions, and maintaining strong client relationships through effective project management and high-quality service. Managing personal workload to ensure successful and profitable project delivery and supporting the wider Ecology team with general project work is also expected, alongside providing timely updates to line management and undertaking any other duties within the scope of ecological expertise.
Applicants should have four to five years of experience in an ecological role, ideally including scientific reporting, with a strong understanding of one or more of hydrology, geology and soils, environmental data analysis, or habitat management. A relevant degree is required, with higher-level qualifications or commercial/research experience advantageous. Strong time management and communication skills are essential, along with flexibility to travel and work across distributed projects. Competence with Microsoft Word, Excel, GIS, and other specialist software is preferred. A full UK driving licence is required.
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.