Principal Freshwater Fisheries Scientist

Are you an experienced freshwater fisheries professional ready to have greater influence over the projects you deliver, the clients you work with and the direction of a specialist fisheries team?

Ocean to Earth Recruitment is partnering with a leading UK environmental consultancy to appoint a Principal Freshwater Fisheries Scientist.

This is a senior opportunity for someone who wants to remain close to the technical work they enjoy, while stepping into a position with greater responsibility for project leadership, client relationships, mentoring and the growth of freshwater fisheries services.

You will join an established multidisciplinary team of aquatic scientists working across the water, energy, infrastructure and conservation sectors, helping clients deliver responsible development while protecting and enhancing freshwater environments.

What will you be working on?

There is real variety here.

Projects range from specialist fisheries surveys and habitat assessments through to major environmental assessments and multidisciplinary infrastructure programmes.

Your work could include:

• Freshwater fish surveys, monitoring and rescues
• Electric fishing, netting and tagging
• Fish habitat assessments and mitigation design
• Fisheries impact and risk assessments
• Fish and eel passage and screening investigations
• Assessing responses to changes in hydrology, water quality and infrastructure
• Water Framework Directive assessments
• Environmental Impact Assessments
• Habitats Regulations Assessments
• Protected and conservation species surveys, including lamprey, bullhead and pearl mussel

You will work with environmental and conservation agencies alongside clients operating across major UK sectors.

More than a project delivery role

At Principal level, you will have the opportunity to influence how freshwater fisheries work is delivered across the business.

You will be trusted to set technical direction, lead complex projects and provide high-level advice to clients and colleagues.

You will also play an important part in what comes next for the team.

That means identifying opportunities, developing client relationships, contributing to successful bids and helping expand the consultancy’s freshwater fisheries portfolio.

For someone looking for progression, this offers the chance to build your profile as both a technical specialist and a leader.

Your role will include

• Leading freshwater fisheries and multidisciplinary projects across the UK
• Setting technical approaches and providing specialist fisheries advice
• Designing and overseeing fisheries surveys and assessments
• Taking projects from initial opportunity and scoping through to delivery
• Managing project programmes, budgets and technical quality
• Preparing tenders, proposals, scopes and budgets
• Building trusted, long-term relationships with clients
• Identifying and securing new project opportunities
• Reviewing technical reports and providing quality assurance
• Mentoring and developing other fisheries and aquatic ecology professionals
• Line managing and supporting colleagues
• Collaborating with specialists from across the wider environmental business
• Representing the consultancy at client meetings, conferences and industry events

What are we looking for?

You will already have established experience within freshwater fisheries ecology and be comfortable taking technical ownership of projects.

Consultancy experience would be particularly valuable, although we are interested in speaking with candidates whose experience demonstrates the right combination of technical expertise, leadership and commercial awareness.

You are likely to bring:

• Strong professional experience in freshwater fisheries ecology and ecological assessment
• Extensive experience designing and delivering freshwater fisheries surveys
• In-depth knowledge of fisheries science and aquatic ecology
• Knowledge of relevant UK environmental policy and legislation
• Experience with WFD, EIA and HRA
• Experience leading projects and balancing competing priorities
• Confidence working directly with clients and stakeholders
• Experience developing client relationships and contributing to business development
• Strong technical report writing and reviewing skills
• Experience mentoring, supporting or managing colleagues

Chartered status, or progress towards professional accreditation, would be advantageous.

Experience leading tenders, winning work and delivering large or multidisciplinary projects would also be welcomed.

Why make this move?

This could be a particularly strong next step if you are looking for a role where your expertise will genuinely influence the direction of a team.

Rather than moving away from fisheries science as you progress, you can continue applying your technical knowledge while taking on greater responsibility for people, projects and clients.

You will have the scope to:

Be the technical expert
Provide high-level fisheries advice and shape technical approaches on complex projects.

Lead meaningful projects
Work across water, energy, infrastructure and conservation projects with direct implications for freshwater environments.

Develop others
Mentor and support colleagues as they build their own technical and consultancy careers.

Grow your influence
Develop client relationships, identify new opportunities and help determine where the fisheries service develops next.

Work flexibly
Join an organisation that recognises the importance of flexibility, wellbeing and balancing your career with life outside work.

Interested?

You do not need to be actively job hunting to have a confidential conversation.

If you have established freshwater fisheries experience and would like to understand whether this Principal opportunity could offer the technical challenge, progression and influence you are looking for, please get in touch.

CVs and confidential enquiries:
vicky@oceantoearth.co.uk

Ocean to Earth Recruitment
Specialist recruitment across ecology, environmental consultancy, water and the wider natural environment sector.