James & Partners
Principal Ecologist
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Principal Ecologist
St Neots, Cambridgeshire
Up to £65,000 + Car Allowance + Bonus + Excellent Benefits
Hybrid Working
My client is one of the UK's most respected independent property consultancies, employing specialists across rural, commercial, residential, planning, development and environmental disciplines. With a long-established reputation for delivering high-quality professional advice, they advise a diverse portfolio of private clients, landed estates, developers, infrastructure providers, local authorities and corporate organisations throughout the UK.
Due to continued growth within their environmental division, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Principal Ecologist to join their established team based in St Neots. This is a genuine leadership opportunity, offering the autonomy to shape the future direction of an already successful ecology service while mentoring a talented team and playing a key role in the continued expansion of the business.
This position would suit an ambitious Senior or Principal Ecologist seeking a role that combines technical excellence, commercial influence and people leadership within a highly regarded multidisciplinary consultancy.
The Role
Reporting into senior leadership, you will take responsibility for leading a team of Ecologists while overseeing the successful delivery of a varied portfolio of ecological consultancy projects across Central and Eastern England.
- Working closely with colleagues across planning, rural, infrastructure and development teams, you will provide expert ecological advice throughout the planning and development process, ensuring the highest technical standards whilst contributing to the continued growth of the ecology business.
- Alongside project delivery, you will have significant involvement in business development, mentoring junior staff, identifying new opportunities and supporting the expansion of emerging services including Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), Natural Capital and wider environmental consultancy.
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Key Responsibilities
- Lead, mentor and develop an established team of Ecologists, supporting their technical and professional development.
- Manage the delivery of ecological projects from instruction through to completion.
- Oversee project programming, resource allocation, financial performance and profitability.
- Deliver high-quality technical advice across a broad range of ecological disciplines.
- Review and quality assure ecological reports, assessments and survey work.
- Prepare and oversee Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA), Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMP) and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments.
- Provide expert advice on habitats, protected species legislation and planning policy.
- Develop strong relationships with existing and prospective clients.
- Prepare competitive fee proposals and contribute to winning new business.
- Work collaboratively alongside planning, rural, development and infrastructure professionals.
- Support the continued development of Natural Capital and wider environmental consultancy services.
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the highest professional standards.
About You
The successful candidate will be an experienced ecological consultant with a proven ability to lead technical projects while managing and developing others.
- You will possess strong commercial awareness alongside excellent communication skills, enabling you to build long-term client relationships whilst maintaining exceptional technical standards.
- You will ideally possess:
- Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science or a related discipline.
- Full Membership of CIEEM.
- Approximately 5-8 years' consultancy experience within ecology or environmental consultancy.
- Strong technical experience producing and reviewing PEA, EcIA, HRA, HMMP and BNG assessments.
- Proven experience managing ecological projects from inception through to completion.
- Previous experience leading or mentoring a team.
- Strong understanding of UK wildlife legislation, planning policy and environmental regulations.
- Excellent report writing and quality assurance skills.
- Commercial awareness with experience preparing fee proposals and developing client relationships.
- Full UK driving licence.
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Desirable Experience
- Chartered Ecologist (CEcol) and/or Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv).
- Postgraduate qualification in Ecology or a related discipline.
- FISC Level 4.
- Protected Species Licence (including Great Crested Newt and/or Bat Licence Level 2+).
- Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) experience.
- MoRPH accreditation.
- CSCS accreditation.
- Additional protected species licences.
What's on Offer
- Salary up to £65,000 depending on experience.
- Car allowance.
- Performance-related bonus.
- Hybrid and flexible working.
- 25 days annual leave, increasing with length of service.
- Private Medical Insurance.
- Health Cash Plan.
- Life Assurance.
- Enhanced Pension Scheme.
- Enhanced Family Leave.
- Holiday Purchase Scheme.
- Travel Insurance.
- Paid Volunteering Day.
- Long Service Awards.
- Ongoing professional development and support towards further accreditations.
- Genuine opportunity to influence and grow an expanding ecology team within a nationally recognised multidisciplinary consultancy.
This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious ecological professional seeking a senior leadership position within a highly respected consultancy, offering genuine autonomy, excellent career progression and the chance to help shape the future of an established and growing ecology division.
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