AtkinsRéalis
Senior/Principal Ecologist
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Senior/Principal Ecologist
Senior Ecologist – Nationally Important Infrastructure Projects
Overview
Shape the future of our cities and environments. Join our organisation, where a diverse range of projects are always underway, offering opportunities for career growth aligned with your passions.
We foster collaboration across teams, ensuring ecology is embedded early in projects to drive nature-positive outcomes. Our award-winning ecology team—comprising over 130 specialists, including a Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) President and three CIEEM Fellows—works on habitat creation, research, development, and major infrastructure.
At AtkinsRéalis, our people are our priority. We offer a flexible, inclusive working environment, flexible remote policies, support for women’s equality, disability inclusivity, and career development tailored to your goals—including mentorship for Chartered Ecologist (CEcol/CEnv) aspirations. Degrees are not mandatory—our focus is on your experience, knowledge, and team fit.
Your Role
In this dynamic position, you will:
Client Engagement & Leadership
- Lead client relationships, ensuring meticulous understanding and execution of requirements by leveraging cross-business support.
- Take ownership of nationally important infrastructure projects, managing programmes, budgets, and delivery.
Technical Expertise
- Plan, execute, and analyse field surveys (with a bat ecology focus).
- Design and coordinate ecological mitigation, ensuring evidence-based solutions.
- Author, review, and refine ecological reports (including Preliminary Ecological Assessments, Habitat Impact Assessments, Biodiversity Net Gain assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessments, and Protected Species Licence Applications).
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Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration & Innovation
- Actively engage with other departments to cross-sell capabilities, support bids, and shape strategic opportunities.
- Proactively identify and mitigate risks—particularly in environmental regulations and permits.
- Fuel innovation on projects and within the team, addressing real-world challenges with forward-thinking solutions.
- Mentor junior team members and foster career development (e.g., supporting chartership progression).
Project Delivery & Growth
- Uphold quality assurance with clients, ensuring technical excellence from proposal to delivery.
- Envision and instil project excellence, balancing strategic ambition with regulatory compliance.
About You
Essential Qualifications & Experience
- Chartered status (CEcol/CEnv) or working towards it (with AtkinsRéalis subsidising CIEEM membership).
- Proven report-writing expertise: Preliminary Ecological Assessments, Ecological Impact Assessments, MRCA for Ecological Impact Assessments, and HRA (Appropriate Assessments). Specialism in Protected Species Licensing (e.g., bat ecology*.
- UK habitat surveying, condition assessments, and Defra Biodiversity Metrics experience.
- Biodiversity Net Gain project knowledge and capability.
- Demontrable project management experience, covering technical, financial, and regulatory facets.
- Nationally Significant Infrastructure familiarity (e.g., Development Consent Orders)** desired.
- Full UK/EEC driving licence.
Nice-to-Have
- Experience in complex bat impact assessments/licences.
- Advanced DCO application support.
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Rewards & Benefits
Our benefits are designed to support your life and career, balancing ambition with personal fulfilment.
- Flexible choices: Hybrid/remote working, tailored holiday allowances, competitive salary, and salary enhancement options (employee recognition programmes).
- Wellbeing & development: Accompanied rehabilitation, mental health support resources, tailored mentorship, and CIEEM chartership funding.
- Career growth: Access to industry-leading training programs, mentorship pipelines, and cross-team project leadership.
- Family-friendly policies: Parental support, paternity/universal credit programmes, flexible schedules, and employee resource groups.
About AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis is a global engineering, design, and consultancy organisation, committed to delivering sustainable infrastructure and energy solutions. Our 29,000+ strong team drives transformation across critical sectors, with rigor and passion.
Our Commitments
- Inclusivity: Equity, diversity, and accessibility are at our core.
- Adaptability: A flexible, agile approach for your evolving needs.
- Sustainability: Integrating climate objectives into every project.
Join us to make infrastructure work for humanity—and change the world.
Additional Information
Security Clearance
- Component requirement: Role may necessitate DBS or security vetting (UKSV), with residency requirements.
- Discussed candidly at interview. Pre-clearance disclosures in applications/CVs will preclude progression.
More details | #EnviroJobs #EcjobsUK
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