Fee Proposal Writer - Ecology

Ocean to Earth Recruitment is working with an established and growing ecological consultancy to recruit a Fee Proposal Writer for its Cambridge team.

This is a particularly interesting opportunity for an ecologist who enjoys the technical and commercial side of consultancy but would like to move away from predominantly field-based work. It could equally suit an experienced proposal, bid or tender professional with a good understanding of ecology, planning or environmental consultancy.

You will join a supportive, specialist consultancy with a strong reputation for technical quality and a growing client base. The wider business brings together expertise across ecology, landscape architecture, water, geoscience and environmental planning, creating opportunities to work alongside experienced professionals across several environmental disciplines.

The role

As Fee Proposal Writer, you will take a central role in preparing and coordinating high-quality ecological fee proposals.

Much of your work will involve the smaller proposals generated through day-to-day consultancy activity, alongside supporting larger bids and tenders when required.

Working closely with Directors, Project Managers and ecologists, you will make sure proposals accurately reflect the technical requirements of each project, including survey requirements, methodologies, constraints, timescales, risks, deliverables and pricing.

This is more than a writing position. You will need to understand how ecological consultancy projects are scoped and delivered, enabling you to question information, identify gaps and help develop realistic, accurate and commercially appropriate proposals.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Preparing and coordinating ecological fee proposals, quotations and supporting documentation.
• Working with ecologists, Project Managers and Directors to gather technical and commercial information.
• Reviewing ecological scope, survey requirements, methodologies, timescales, risks and deliverables.
• Working accurately with fees, rates, costs and pricing assumptions.
• Managing multiple proposal deadlines and ensuring submissions are completed on time.
• Improving the consistency, quality and efficiency of proposal documentation.
• Maintaining proposal templates and supporting technical information.
• Monitoring live, upcoming and issued proposals.
• Supporting larger bids and tender submissions when required.
• Liaising professionally with clients and procurement contacts where appropriate.
• Contributing to wider business development activity and identifying trends in client requirements.

About you

You are likely to have a background in ecology or environmental consultancy and understand how projects progress from an initial client brief through surveys, reporting and delivery.

Alongside your technical understanding, you will be a strong communicator with excellent attention to detail, good commercial awareness and the confidence to work with both technical information and numbers.

We would particularly like to hear from you if you have:

• Experience within ecological consultancy or a closely related environmental discipline.
• Knowledge of ecological surveys, methodologies and project requirements.
• An understanding of UK planning, protected species, habitat surveys, Biodiversity Net Gain or environmental assessment.
• Strong numerical skills and confidence working with fees, rates, budgets and costs.
• Excellent written English and the ability to turn technical information into clear, persuasive proposals.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Confidence working collaboratively with senior technical and commercial colleagues.

Previous experience preparing fee proposals, quotations, tenders, bids or technical reports would be particularly valuable. However, you do not necessarily need to be an established bid professional. This could be an excellent next career step for an experienced ecologist who enjoys writing, project scoping and the commercial side of consultancy.

Why consider this opportunity?

This is an opportunity to remain firmly within the ecology and environmental sector while developing a career that is less reliant on seasonal survey work and regular fieldwork.

You will be joining a growing consultancy that places considerable importance on technical standards, professional development and creating a supportive working environment.

The package includes a competitive salary, pension, annual leave, company sick pay, professional development opportunities, sabbatical scheme, cycle scheme and employee referral scheme, with hybrid working available where appropriate.

For ecologists moving into the role, professional CIEEM membership will continue to be supported and funded.

The position is based in Cambridge, with regular office attendance important due to the close collaboration with Directors, ecologists and the wider team.

Interested?

If you are an ecologist considering moving away from predominantly survey and field-based work, or you already have experience in ecological proposals, bids, tenders or commercial coordination, I would be very happy to speak with you.

To apply, send your CV to Vicky Kenrick at vicky@oceantoearth.co.uk for a confidential conversation.

Ocean to Earth Recruitment specialises in environmental recruitment across the UK. We take a research-led, Director-led approach, looking beyond the immediate vacancy to understand your experience, values and longer-term career goals, helping you find an opportunity where there is genuine alignment and room to develop.