Principal Consultant/Associate Director Ecology and Biodiversity

Ocean to Earth Recruitment is proud to be partnering with one of our valued clients to find an outstanding Principal Consultant or Associate Director to support the continued growth of their Ecology & Biodiversity Team in Scotland.

This is a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to take on a wide variety of challenges, including people management, client and project management, technical leadership, business development, commercial oversight, and the delivery of training. The role offers some flexibility and can be shaped around the successful candidate, although prior experience in line or team management would be highly advantageous.

While the location is flexible, the preferred candidate will ideally be able to commute to the Grangemouth office at least once a week.

Our client’s mission is to "See A Difference" — delivering real-world, pragmatic, and focused ecological advice that supports both their clients and biodiversity outcomes.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

• A BSc and/or MSc in Ecology or a related discipline

• Membership of a relevant professional body, such as the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)

Essential Skills

We are seeking someone with:

• Line management or team management experience

• Strong review and quality assurance capabilities for fee proposals, tenders, and technical reports

• The ability to clearly communicate complex ecological issues in plain language

• A solid understanding of the Scottish planning system

• Experience in managing project budgets

• A proven ability to grow business through excellent service delivery and client relationship building

• Experience supporting and mentoring less experienced team members

Desirable Skills

The following skills would be a plus:

• Protected species licences (e.g., Schedule 1 birds, great crested newt, bats, badger, otter)

• Ornithological survey, assessment, and mitigation experience

• Stakeholder consultation experience, particularly with NatureScot, SEPA, and local planning authorities

• An inventive and creative approach to solving ecological challenges

About the Offer

The salary for this role will be competitive and aligned with the candidate’s experience. Our client offers a strong range of benefits, including:

• Professional body subscription (typically CIEEM)

• Internal and external training tailored to individual needs

• 33 days of combined annual leave and public holidays, with options to buy or sell leave

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Generous employee referral scheme

• Volunteering day to support a chosen cause

• Fully flexible parental leave options

• Cycle-to-work and electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes

Our client is an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to providing a supportive and inclusive working environment, offering career progression, professional development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package.