Principal Ecologist
Meet Our Recruiter
About the Role
Ocean to Earth Recruitment is supporting a growing multidisciplinary environmental consultancy in the search for a Principal Ecologist to join their Bristol team.
One of the standout features of this opportunity is the company’s 4-day working week on full pay, offering employees 80% of their time for 100% salary. The business genuinely values work-life balance, wellbeing and creating an environment where people can thrive professionally without compromising life outside of work.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced ecologist to step into a senior leadership role within a collaborative and forward-thinking consultancy, working closely with landscape architecture and arboricultural teams on a diverse portfolio of projects across the UK.
The consultancy has built a strong reputation for technical excellence, innovation and its people-focused culture, delivering meaningful environmental work while supporting long-term career growth and flexibility.
The Role
As Principal Ecologist, you will play a key role in shaping and strengthening the ecology team, leading complex projects while supporting both technical excellence and business growth.
This position offers the opportunity to combine project leadership, technical delivery, mentoring and client development within a supportive and engaging consultancy environment.
Responsibilities will include:
• Acting as Project Director on large and complex ecological projects
• Leading and overseeing ecological project teams across varied workstreams
• Managing client relationships and supporting high-quality project delivery
• Delivering and reviewing Preliminary Ecological Appraisals
• Ecological Impact Assessments and Habitats Regulations Assessments
• Biodiversity Net Gain assessments and strategies
• Protected species surveys, licensing and mitigation strategies
• Reviewing, quality assuring and signing off technical reports
• Mentoring and developing ecologists across different levels
• Supporting business development and helping secure new work
• Collaborating across multidisciplinary environmental teams
The role offers a varied and engaging workload, with the opportunity to contribute to nationally significant and technically interesting projects while helping shape the future direction of the ecology discipline.
About You
The ideal candidate will bring strong technical ecology expertise alongside leadership capability, commercial awareness and a collaborative approach.
They are looking for someone with:
• Strong academic qualifications in Ecology, Biological Sciences or a related discipline
• Full membership of CIEEM, with Chartership desirable
• Excellent understanding of UK ecological legislation and planning policy
• Advanced habitat survey and protected species survey experience
• Experience leading complex ecological projects and teams
• Excellent report writing and quality assurance skills
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement abilities
• Experience mentoring and supporting junior ecologists
• Business development and project-winning experience
• Protected species licences would be advantageous
• Full UK driving licence
Why Apply?
This is an excellent opportunity to join a consultancy that genuinely values innovation, collaboration and long-term development.
Benefits include:
• 4-day working week on full salary
• Hybrid working flexibility
• Strong progression and leadership opportunities
• A supportive and collaborative culture
• Exposure to multidisciplinary and meaningful environmental projects
• A business committed to wellbeing, inclusion and continuous improvement
At Ocean to Earth Recruitment, our values are Respect, Integrity and Growth. We partner with environmental and sustainability-led businesses that are committed to creating positive impact while supporting long-term career development for their people.
Salary: £48,450 to £52,040 depending on experience
Location: Bristol, hybrid working with approximately two office or site days per week
If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please send your CV to: