Senior Ecologist

Ocean to Earth Recruitment is supporting a specialist ecological consultancy looking to appoint an experienced Senior Ecologist to join its growing team in the South West.

This is a strong opportunity for an ecologist who enjoys combining technical ecology with project ownership, client liaison and continued involvement in fieldwork. You will work across a varied portfolio of projects, leading ecological assessments, protected species work and mitigation while supporting the development of less experienced colleagues.

The role offers a good balance of technical delivery, project management and hands-on ecology, with genuine scope to continue developing your expertise and protected species licensing experience.

The role

You will be involved in:

• Leading Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA), Preliminary Roost Assessments (PRA), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA) and ecological inputs to Environmental Statements

• Undertaking and coordinating UKHab surveys and Biodiversity Net Gain assessments

• Designing and coordinating protected species surveys including bats, dormice, birds, reptiles and amphibians

• Undertaking a range of bat surveys, with opportunities to be involved in more specialist techniques including trapping and radio-tracking

• Preparing protected species licence method statements and supporting licence applications

• Overseeing ecological mitigation and monitoring

• Acting as an accredited agent or named ecologist where appropriate to your experience

• Managing projects, budgets, programmes and client relationships

• Coordinating specialist subcontractors

• Producing and reviewing high-quality technical reports

• Providing technical guidance and mentoring to junior ecologists

About you

You will ideally have:

• Around five years or more of professional ecological consultancy experience

• Strong experience in protected species and habitat surveys

• Good technical knowledge of bat ecology and survey methods

• Experience preparing ecological reports and assessments

• An understanding of protected species licensing and mitigation

• Experience managing projects, budgets and client relationships

• Full CIEEM membership, or eligibility to achieve this

• A full UK driving licence and willingness to undertake site and occasional night work

Experience with bat mitigation licensing, BNG, UKHab, EcIA and mentoring junior colleagues would be particularly valuable.

What is on offer?

Salary of £38,000 to £45,000 depending on experience, alongside hybrid working and flexibility across office, home and site-based work.

You will also have access to performance-related bonuses, ongoing professional development and training, alongside opportunities to develop your technical specialisms and take greater responsibility as your career progresses.

The consultancy offers a supportive environment for ecologists who want to retain hands-on technical involvement while building their project management, client-facing and leadership experience.

To find out more in confidence, please send your CV to vicky@oceantoearth.co.uk.