Thomson environmental consultants
Ecological Consultant (with Botany skills) – Manchester or Leeds

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Our core purpose is to enable nature and business to thrive together.
Our brand mission is to be chosen by clients as their preferred specialists and regarded by people in our industry as the company to work for. We aim to be the most innovative, pragmatic and fast-growing environmental consultancy in the UK.
With offices across the UK, our experts are committed to delivering exceptional outcomes to our clients across a range of environmental services and ecological contracting.
Our services include but are not limited to: terrestrial ecology, freshwater ecology, hydrology, marine laboratory, arboricultural services, geographic information systems (GIS) and mapping and environmental impact assessments.
The Position:
We're looking for an Ecological Consultant to join our dynamic and busy terrestrial ecology team in Manchester or Leeds. We are especially keen to hear from candidates with botany skills.
As an Ecological Consultant at Thomson your role will be varied - You'll spend plenty of time out on site as well as working on reporting, client communication, project management and delivery. Travel and overnight stays are often part of the job, particularly during peak survey season, so this role would suit someone who enjoys being out and about and working across a range of locations.
We're looking for someone with strong communication skills and the ability to build lasting relationships with clients and colleagues alike. In return, you'll have the opportunity to develop your technical expertise, work on meaningful projects, and grow within a supportive and passionate team.
If you're ready to take your ecology career to the next level with a company who enable nature and business to thrive together, we'd love to hear from you!
Salary: From £29,000 depending on experience and skillset
What Success in the Role Looks Like:
In your first few months, you'll be getting to know our ways of working, supporting project delivery through surveys and reporting, and working closely with your line manager. As you settle in, success in the role will look like:
Delivering high-quality field surveys safely, efficiently and in line with best practice and relevant legislation. Producing clear, accurate and well-structured reports that meet both client needs and technical standards. Managing your workload confidently, keeping projects moving and communicating progress. Building strong working relationships with your Thomson colleagues and clients. Working towards your career goals, with support from your manager to develop both your technical expertise and consultancy skills Contributing to a positive team culture, sharing knowledge, supporting others during busy periods and being willing to learn. Helping identify opportunities to improve our service and deliver great outcomes for both nature and our clients.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
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Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
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Requirements
Successful candidates will have:
Proven previous experience in a similar role, ideally within a commercial consultancy. Strong field skills in one or more specialist areas. Working knowledge of relevant legislation, policy and survey best practices. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write clear, concise reports. A positive attitude and a strong desire to develop and succeed. A valid driving licence and vehicle, that can be insured for business use. The ability and willingness to travel and stay away at survey sites in various locations around the UK. To be located within 1 hour's commute from our Manchester office (based in Altrincham) or Leeds office. A degree or postgraduate degree in ecology or a closely related subject. Membership to the Chartered Institute of Ecological and Environmental Management (CIEEM)
It would be advantageous if you also had the following:
Experience of project management, including forming and issuing quotes to clients. One or more protected species licences e.g. GCN, bat or dormouse. Ornithological skills. Botany skills.
All applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK.
The recruitment process:
Once you've submitted your CV and Cover Letter, we will review your application and, if you're shortlisted, we'll invite you to attend an interview over Microsoft Teams. You'll meet with the Manchester Team Lead and another member of our Terrestrial Ecology team.
Although it's an interview, we'll do our best to make it a positive experience and help you feel comfortable so you can be yourself. We'll ask you questions to understand your skills, experience and what you're looking for, and we'll also talk you through the practical side of the role.
It's a relaxed, two-way conversation, so you'll have plenty of time to ask questions and get a feel for the team and the work you'd be involved with.
Following the initial MS Teams interview, there is also the opportunity to attend the office you'd be joining, where you'd be invited to meet some of your would-be team members in person, and take a tour of the office itself.
Working at Thomson
At Thomson, we strive to be the very best at what we do, both in the eyes of our customers and our colleagues. We believe in One Thomson; we draw on and value every individual's unique skills and experience to come together and support each other in delivering an exceptional service.


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Our people are our greatest asset. We want Thomson to be a great place to work, where everyone feels supported to be the best they can be. We are proud of our friendly, supportive, 'nothing is too much trouble' culture. We live and breathe our RISE (Respect, Integrity, Support, Excellence) values. Your opinions matter to us; we are constantly evolving.
We promote a healthy work-life balance to ensure we have an engaged, productive and happy team. We are flexible and committed and welcome new challenges.
We recognise the importance in training and developing our team as well as offering a competitive pay and reward package.
Involving ourselves in our local communities is important to us and we are proud of our continued achievements in fund raising for charity. We work hard but have fun too.
We are passionate about career development so we make sure we nurture talent. Our people benefit from access to a diverse range of industry-accredited external training, as well as in-house training opportunities led by our specialists. The variety of projects we deliver across the breadth of environmental services encourages cross-team working and collaboration. We can offer you the opportunity to contribute to and lead on high-profile, once in a life-time projects.
You'll enjoy all the benefits we have to offer which include: 25 days annual leave, healthcare cash plan, enhanced stakeholder pension scheme, life insurance, discounted gym membership, paid professional memberships, clothing allowance, outstanding performance rewards, long service awards, free parking and regular local and company social events.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As an equal opportunities employer, Thomson is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, gender reassignment, being married or in a civil partnership, being pregnant or on maternity leave, disability, race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.
We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply to and join Thomson.
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