Senior / Principal Ecologist

Job Title:
Senior / Principal Ecologist

Salary:
£40,000 to £50,000 (dependent on experience)

Location:
UK – Various locations

Type:
Permanent | Hybrid / flexible working

About the Role:
Our client is looking for an experienced Senior / Principal Ecologist to join their established and growing ecology team, supporting a wide range of projects across development, infrastructure and nature recovery.

You’ll work both independently and collaboratively, acting as an ecology lead on projects and contributing to high-quality ecological assessments, habitat design, mitigation strategies and stakeholder engagement.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys variety, technical delivery, leadership, and helping shape nature-positive outcomes from the earliest project stages.

About the client:
Our client is a well-established organisation delivering work across major infrastructure, development and environmental projects across the UK.

They are known for their collaborative culture, flexible working approach, and commitment to supporting staff wellbeing and professional development. Their ecology function is highly respected and works closely with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure ecology is embedded early in project planning and delivery.

Key Responsibilities:
Undertake ecological assessment and habitat design for a variety of development and nature recovery projects
Develop innovative and pragmatic approaches to ecological mitigation and compensation
Work collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams and engage with stakeholders / clients
Deliver clear, concise and high-quality ecological outputs in line with current guidance and best practice
Quality assurance of ecological deliverables
Act as ecology lead on projects
Task and project management
Mentor and support junior staff
Line management responsibilities (where applicable)
What Our Client is Looking For:
A passion for ecology and the natural environment
Strong working knowledge of UK wildlife legislation and policy
Ability to undertake:
UKHab surveys
Preliminary Ecological Assessments (PEA)
Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA)
Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA)
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments
Strong report writing skills and attention to detail
Strong botanical skills, including FISC Level 3+ (or demonstrable equivalent)
Experience in protected species surveys, mitigation and licensing
Understanding of the importance of work winning through bidding and building strong client relationships
Ability to manage ecology deliverables and projects from bid through to completion
Membership of CIEEM (or equivalent)
Chartered status (CEnv / CEcol) or the ability to achieve Chartership
Full UK driving licence
What Our Client Offers:
Salary of £40,000 to £50,000 depending on experience
Hybrid and flexible working options
A supportive, inclusive team culture
Strong focus on wellbeing and work-life balance
Ongoing training and professional development
Clear progression opportunities
The chance to work on high-profile, meaningful projects across the UK
Eligibility:
This role may require UK security clearance
Candidates may need to demonstrate 5+ years UK residency, depending on project requirements
Right to work in the UK is required
Opportunity for Growth:
This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly respected ecology team with clear progression routes into senior leadership, technical specialism, or project leadership.

You’ll be supported through professional development and mentoring, with the chance to work on projects that make a measurable difference to the natural environment.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.