Director of Ecology

This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership role at a pivotal moment of growth — shaping strategy, inspiring talented ecologists, and delivering projects that genuinely make a difference for people, nature and place.

🌿 About the Opportunity

Our client’s ecology team is driven by a simple but powerful ambition: creating opportunities for wildlife and people to thrive together.

With established teams across the UK — including Edinburgh and Glasgow — they work on an exciting and diverse portfolio of projects at both local and national levels. These range from:

• Renewable energy and infrastructure

• Historic environment and regeneration

• Regenerative agriculture

• Green and Blue Infrastructure strategies

• Planning and development projects across urban and rural landscapes

From the Scottish uplands to central London, their teams survey habitats and protected species including bats, osprey, dormouse and otter — applying innovative ecological principles to complex, high-profile challenges.

Following the adoption of an ambitious 2024–2028 strategy, continued growth is planned across Scotland and Northern England. As such, we are seeking a Director to help lead, grow and deliver an exciting and expanding order book.

🌍 The Role

Based in Edinburgh or Glasgow (hybrid working – minimum two office days per week), this leadership role offers extensive collaboration with colleagues across the UK. Travel to sites, client offices and other UK locations will be required.

You will join the Ecology Leadership Team, playing a central role in shaping strategic direction while ensuring operational excellence and commercial success.

Key Responsibilities

• Contributing to team-wide strategy and long-term resource development

• Growing and delivering ecology services across Scotland and Northern England

• Inspiring, mentoring and leading a team of ecologists and ornithologists

• Embedding operational and scientific best practice

• Overseeing project delivery with accountability for resourcing, quality and financial performance

• Driving business development and securing new work

• Representing the organisation at industry and best-practice events

This role also offers the opportunity to actively participate in business management and ownership through an Employee Ownership Trust structure.

🎯 What We’re Looking For

This role will suit a highly experienced ecological consultant with strong technical, commercial and leadership credentials.

Essential

• Degree-level education (or equivalent experience)

• Significant leadership experience in UK ecological consultancy

• Proven business development and work-winning capability

• Strong knowledge of UK ecological survey and assessment methods

• Strong understanding of ecological legislation and planning in Scotland

• Proficiency with MS Office

Desirable

• Active engagement in the Scottish nature conservation community

• Eligibility to live and work in the UK

🌱 Why Consider This Move?

• Join a values-led consultancy approaching 60 years of shaping better places

• Influence strategic direction at senior leadership level

• Work on some of the UK’s most exciting consultancy projects

• Be part of an employee-owned structure

• Flexible working culture with genuine work-life balance

• Clear opportunity to shape and grow a regional team

There has rarely been a more urgent or important time for high-quality ecological leadership. This is a chance to play a defining role in delivering meaningful environmental change.