Principal Ecologist

Salary/Rate:£40K - £50K
Town/City:Remote Surrey, Kent, Sussex
County:East Sussex
Sector:Ecology and Forestry
Job ref:1366989
Post Date:18.09.26
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Meet Our Recruiter

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Senior or Principal Ecologist to join a friendly, growing multidisciplinary consultancy working across ecology, arboriculture and landscape.

This is a genuinely home-based role for someone in Kent, Surrey or East Sussex. When travelling to surveys, your working day starts when you leave home, rather than after an unpaid commute to an office.

The opportunity would suit an established Principal Ecologist or a strong Senior ready to step up into greater project, client and team responsibility.

What’s on offer:

• £45,000 – £50,000 salary
• Home-based working
• Full-time or part-time, minimum 30 hours over four days
• Flexible working patterns
• 25 days’ holiday
• TOIL for out-of-hours surveys
• Contributory pension
• Generous CPD allowance
• Paid professional membership
• Home-working allowance
• Supportive, friendly virtual team

The role:

You will manage a varied portfolio of ecological projects across the South East, working with developers, planning consultants, architects, landowners and heritage clients.

Your work will include PEA, UKHab and protected species surveys, EcIA, Biodiversity Net Gain, bat surveys and mitigation, protected species licence applications, project and client management, quotations, budgets and report review.

You will also have the opportunity to support and mentor other ecologists and work closely with landscape and arboricultural colleagues.

About you:

Ideally, you will have four or more years’ ecological consultancy experience, with strong PEA, EcIA and commercial bat experience, alongside confidence managing projects and clients.

You will also bring good botanical knowledge, BNG experience and excellent report writing skills. Protected species licences are required, ideally including a Level 2 bat class licence, alongside Full CIEEM membership.

Experience as a Named Ecologist on Natural England mitigation licences, QGIS skills and HRA experience would be particularly useful.

If you are looking for a Senior or Principal Ecology role in the South East with genuine home working, flexibility and the opportunity to have greater influence within a smaller consultancy, we would be very happy to speak with you.

Send your CV to vicky@oceantoearth.co.uk for a confidential conversation.

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