My client has an exceptional opportunity for an experienced Ecologist to join their growing Ecology team at High Senior or Principal grade. The role will be based from rural offices not far from Southampton and offers significant flexible working arrangements, including part-time work.
As a key member of the team, you will take responsibility for project managing large scale, complex, and non standard projects. This includes day to day project management, preparing deliverables such as Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Ecological Impact Assessments, ES Chapters, BNG Assessments and Habitat Regulations Assessments, and leading the quality assurance of deliverables prepared by others. You will provide high quality advice to key clients, design and support mitigation, compensation, and enhancement measures, and manage client relationships to contribute to business growth.
In addition, you will form part of the company's management team, line managing a team of ecologists, assisting in staff development, and contributing to wider company development.
LocationHampshire/Southampton - Significant flexible working options available.
About You- Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in ecological consultancy, local authority, or a similar environment.
- Extensive ecological experience, customer focussed, detail oriented, and a skilled communicator with excellent verbal and written skills.
- Ability to manage client expectations, meet deadlines, and comfortably project manage large scale, complex projects.
- Excellent problem solving skills to meet the challenges posed by clients and the business.
- Experience in field surveys, including UK Habitat Classification and protected species surveys, and office based tasks such as client and regulatory liaison, surveyor team management, report writing and budget management.
- Involved in a range of ecological deliverables and in the quality assurance of documents prepared by others.
- Experience in managing a team and contributing to the development and operational activities of the team.
- Full CIEEM membership.
- Degree in a relevant subject.
- At least two Natural England/Natural Resources Wales protected species class licences.
- Minimum of 6 years post qualification experience in an ecologically focussed role, preferably in ecological consultancy.
- Independent management of large scale ecological projects, preferably significant multi phased residential development projects.
- Experience preparing a wide range of technical reports, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Ecological Impact Assessments, ES Chapters, Habitat Regulations Assessments, and other technical reports.
- Experience in Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments and designing BNG solutions.
- Experience applying for Natural England mitigation licences and having acted as a Named Ecologist on licences for at least one species.
- Technical quality assurance of deliverables.
- Preparation of tenders and budgets, and active development of client relationships and new business.
- Excellent knowledge of relevant UK and European legislation, policy and guidance.
- Line management experience of junior staff, including workload management and contributing to wider technical development of a team.
- Team player with exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including client meetings and stakeholder engagement.
- Proficient MS Outlook, Word and Excel.
- Full driving licence.
- Legal entitlement to work in the UK.
- Experience leading or being involved with recruitment of staff.
- Experience developing policy and business strategy.
- Chartered Ecologist.
- Botanical survey skills.
- Ornithological survey skills.
- Competitive salary in the range of £40,000 - £60,000, based on experience.
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays; additional days accrue after five years of service.
- Access to the company healthcare scheme.
- Opportunity to shape the operational and technical direction of the company.
- Flexible hours over the summer months with option to accrue TOIL or paid overtime.
- Flexibility to work from home with prior agreement.
- Generous structured training budget and regular in house training.
- Extensive support network within the company for guidance and specialist advice.
- Relaxed office environment.
- Regular social events and yearly charity days.
- Rural office location with free car parking, large garden, wildlife ponds and lunch area.
If you are interested in this position or similar roles currently available, please contact Jeremy Money at . Phone: . Note that if we do not respond within one working week, your application will be considered unsuccessful for this role. We will confidentially retain your details and inform you of other suitable opportunities should you not be successful in this role.