Principal Ecologist
Meet Our Recruiter
About the Role
Ocean to Earth Recruitment is supporting a highly respected environmental consultancy in the search for a Principal Ecologist to join its Bristol-based team. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially aware and technically accomplished ecologist to take on a senior leadership role within a collaborative, multidisciplinary business.
This award-winning consultancy is known for doing things differently. Recently recognised as a Sunday Times Best Place to Work, it has built a culture centred around trust, flexibility and giving talented people the freedom to do their best work. The team combines technical excellence with a genuine commitment to employee wellbeing, creating an environment where careers can flourish.
One of the standout benefits is the company's 4-day working week, where employees work 80% of the week while receiving 100% of their salary. It's a permanent arrangement, not a trial, designed to give people more time to spend with family and friends, pursue personal interests, volunteer, or simply recharge, all while maintaining a rewarding and challenging career. The result is a happier, more engaged team and a workplace where work-life balance is genuinely valued.
You'll work alongside landscape architects, arboriculturists and environmental specialists, delivering innovative, nature-positive solutions across a wide range of development and infrastructure projects.
The Role
As Principal Ecologist, you will lead the delivery of complex ecological projects while supporting the strategic growth of the ecology team. You will combine technical leadership with project management, client relationship development and mentoring responsibilities.
Key aspects of the role include:
- Acting as Project Director on large and complex ecological projects.
- Leading and coordinating multidisciplinary project teams.
- Managing high-value projects from proposal stage through to delivery.
- Delivering and reviewing Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIAs), Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRAs) and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments.
- Overseeing protected species surveys, licensing and mitigation strategies.
- Providing technical review and quality assurance of ecological reports and deliverables.
- Mentoring and supporting ecologists across all levels of experience.
- Building strong client relationships and acting as a trusted technical advisor.
- Contributing to business development activities and securing new work opportunities.
About You
We would love to hear from experienced ecologists who are passionate about delivering excellent technical work while helping to develop people and projects.
You are likely to have:
- A degree in Ecology, Biological Sciences or a related discipline.
- Full membership of CIEEM (MCIEEM), with Chartership or progress towards Chartership welcomed.
- Strong knowledge of UK ecological legislation and planning policy.
- Extensive experience of UK Habitat Classification and protected species surveys.
- One or more protected species licences, although these are not essential.
- Excellent report writing, review and quality assurance skills.
- A proven ability to manage complex projects and maintain strong client relationships.
- Experience mentoring and developing colleagues.
- Commercial awareness and a track record of contributing to business development.
- A collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
- A full UK driving licence.
What's on Offer?
- A genuine 4-day working week with full-time pay.
- The opportunity to join a Sunday Times Best Place to Work recognised for its outstanding culture.
- Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
- The chance to shape and grow a successful ecology team.
- A diverse and engaging project portfolio across multiple sectors.
- Collaborative working with leading landscape and arboricultural specialists.
- A people-first environment that actively supports professional development, innovation and career progression.
- The opportunity to make a meaningful impact through nature recovery and sustainable development projects.
If you're ready to take the next step in your ecology career and want to join a business where you can lead, influence and grow while enjoying one of the best work-life balance packages in the sector, we'd love to hear from you.