Technical Director of Ecology

This is a senior opportunity for an established ecology leader who wants the scope to influence more than individual projects. You will help shape technical standards, develop and grow the ecology team across the North, strengthen key client relationships and contribute to the wider direction of an ambitious environmental consultancy.

About the Company

Our client is an independent, forward-thinking consultancy working across the natural and built environment, with a growing network of offices across the UK.

Originally established as a planning consultancy, the business has grown significantly and developed a broad multidisciplinary offering across Ecology, Planning, EIA, Landscape Architecture, Arboriculture, GIS and Spatial Analysis, Historic Environment, Architecture, Masterplanning and Urban Design.

The consultancy works across projects of varying scale and complexity, from residential and commercial development through to infrastructure and nationally important renewable energy schemes.

Its continued growth has been built around maintaining strong regional knowledge and client relationships while bringing together specialists from different environmental and design disciplines.

There is also a clear environmental and social purpose behind the business. Its aim is to help shape better places while creating environmental and social value through the projects it supports. This includes protecting nature, reducing environmental impacts and helping clients make more sustainable development decisions.

For someone joining at Technical Director level, the culture is particularly important. The business places emphasis on people, professional development, technical excellence, collaboration and giving experienced professionals the opportunity to influence its future direction.

The Opportunity

As Technical Director of Ecology, you will provide strategic technical leadership across the ecology business while taking responsibility for growing and strengthening its ecology presence across the North of England.

You will be a recognised senior technical voice within the consultancy, providing oversight on major and complex projects and supporting colleagues with challenging ecological and planning matters.

Alongside this technical leadership, you will have genuine scope to shape the business.

You will help develop the Northern ecology team, identify growth opportunities, strengthen existing client relationships, support major bids and frameworks and work closely with Directors from other disciplines to develop integrated environmental services.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Acting as a senior technical authority for ecology
• Leading technical excellence, innovation and best practice
• Providing strategic oversight on complex and nationally significant projects
• Leading and reviewing complex EcIA, HRA and Biodiversity Net Gain assessments
• Undertaking senior technical reviews and quality assurance
• Developing technical standards, procedures and guidance
• Providing specialist advice, support and mentoring across the ecology team
• Leading the strategic growth of the ecology offering across the North
• Building, developing and inspiring a high-performing ecology team
• Developing regional business and growth plans
• Building long-term relationships with key clients
• Identifying and developing new business opportunities
• Leading and supporting major bids, frameworks and strategic pursuits
• Contributing to revenue growth, profitability and wider business performance
• Supporting resource planning and financial management
• Collaborating with senior colleagues across planning, environmental and design disciplines
• Representing the consultancy within the wider ecology and environmental sector

What We Are Looking For

You are likely to be an established Technical Director, Ecology Director, Associate Director or experienced Principal-level Ecologist who is ready to combine technical expertise with broader leadership and commercial responsibility.

You will ideally bring:

• Extensive ecological consultancy experience, including senior-level responsibility
• Strong technical expertise across EcIA, HRA and BNG
• Experience delivering major, complex or nationally significant projects
• A track record of leading, mentoring and developing ecology professionals
• Strong technical review and quality assurance experience
• Good commercial awareness and an understanding of consultancy financial performance
• Experience developing client relationships and generating new work
• Strong knowledge of UK planning policy and environmental legislation
• Full membership of CIEEM
• A relevant degree or equivalent professional background
• A full UK driving licence

Experience of NSIPs, protected species licensing, Expert Witness work, industry presentations or leading a regional or national ecology function would be particularly valuable.

Chartered status or equivalent professional recognition would also be welcomed.

Why Consider It?

This could be particularly well suited to someone who has reached a senior position within a larger consultancy but wants greater influence over how a team and regional ecology business develops.

The company has grown considerably while retaining its independence and is continuing to expand its multidisciplinary capabilities. Its approach combines regional expertise with the resources and project opportunities of a wider UK consultancy.

There is also a strong project pipeline across renewable energy, infrastructure and development, including involvement in major solar and battery storage schemes.

You will have the opportunity to influence technical direction, recruit and develop your team, contribute commercially and collaborate with specialists across the wider environmental and planning business.

Importantly, the company is open to different ways of working. Full-time and part-time applications will be considered, alongside hybrid working.

Benefits

The wider package includes:

• Hybrid and flexible working
• Enhanced annual leave
• Additional loyalty leave with service
• Enhanced company pension
• Private medical insurance following probation
• BUPA Cash Plan
• Death in service cover
• Protected CPD
• Professional body membership contribution
• Defined career progression and promotion opportunities
• Non-contractual growth bonus scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Wider health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits

Interested?

You do not necessarily need to be actively searching for a new role.

If you are an experienced ecology leader and would be interested in understanding more about the company, its growth plans and the opportunity to shape its ecology presence across the North, Ocean to Earth Recruitment would be very happy to have an initial confidential conversation.

Equally, if you are currently operating at Associate Director or senior Principal level and feel you are ready to take the next step into broader technical and business leadership, we would be keen to hear from you.

Please get in touch with Ocean to Earth Recruitment to discuss the opportunity confidentially.