Hays
Senior Ecologist
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Your new company
My client is a well-established environmental business that has been delivering sustainable land management and ecological solutions for the past 20 years. Over the last 5-6 years, their ecology division has experienced significant growth and now forms part of a multidisciplinary team of ecologists, arboriculturists, foresters, landscape specialists and environmental professionals working across the UK.
Their projects span residential development, utility infrastructure, estates management and nature recovery initiatives, offering ecologists the opportunity to work on a genuinely diverse portfolio. Key clients include major water companies, large landowners, habitat bank providers and private developers, with projects ranging from Biodiversity Net Gain delivery and habitat banking schemes through to large-scale utility infrastructure and estate management programmes.
The organisation prides itself on offering a supportive, collaborative culture where professional development, flexibility and high-quality ecological outcomes are valued equally.
Your new role
Due to continued growth, my client is seeking experienced Ecologists to join one of their offices in the home counties on a hybrid basis.
This position offers an excellent opportunity to balance technical ecology with project and people management responsibilities. You'll work closely with the team, and potentially managing as well as providing mentoring and technical oversight while managing a varied portfolio of projects across the commercial, residential, utility and nature recovery sectors.
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Key responsibilities will include:
- Managing ecological projects from inception through to delivery
- Producing and reviewing Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs), Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments and technical reports
- Providing technical leadership and quality assurance across ecological deliverables
- Managing project budgets, programmes and client relationships
- Supporting and mentoring junior ecologists within the team
- Delivering ecological advice on development, infrastructure and land management projects
- Contributing to Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMPs), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIAs) and habitat banking schemes
- Working alongside arboricultural, forestry and landscape specialists on multidisciplinary projects
- Supporting projects for major utility clients, developers, estates and conservation partners across the UK
You'll benefit from a mix of office, home and site-based work, with regular collaboration across both offices and exposure to projects throughout England.
What you'll need to succeed
To be considered, you should possess:
- A degree in Ecology or a related discipline
- Membership of CIEEM (or eligibility)
- Strong experience producing high-quality PEAs and BNG assessments
- Excellent ecological report writing skills
- Knowledge of UK wildlife legislation and planning policy
- Strong habitat survey and protected species survey experience
- Experience managing projects and client relationships
- Full UK driving licence
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Desirable experience includes:
- FISC Level 3 or above (Level 4 desirable)
- Protected species licences
- Habitat banking or nature recovery projects
- EcIA and HMMP production
- Utility, infrastructure or residential planning projects
- GIS proficiency
What you'll get in return
- Competitive salary of £38,000 - £48,000 depending on experience
- Hybrid and flexible working arrangements (1 mandatory day in the office after probation)
- Company vehicle allocation following probation
- Annual performance-related pay reviews
- Professional membership fees paid
- Extensive training and development opportunities, including FISC support
- Healthcare scheme
- Enhanced company sick pay
- Pension scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Referral bonus scheme
- Long-term career progression within a growing multidisciplinary business
- Opportunity to work on nationally significant nature recovery, habitat banking and infrastructure projects
What you need to do now
Interested in combining technical ecology with leadership responsibilities while working on a diverse portfolio of development, utility and nature recovery projects? Apply now or contact me for a confidential discussion.
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