Water Team Lead

Salary/Rate:£Depending on Experience
Town/City:Multiple UK office Hybrid or Remote
County:Multiple Offices UK Wide
Sector:Water
Job ref:1369992
Post Date:02.10.26
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Meet Our Recruiter

About the Role

Water Ecology Team Lead

Location: Semi-Remote / Hybrid, UK
Contract: Permanent, Full-time
Sector: Water Ecology / Aquatic Ecology / Hydro-Ecology

Ocean to Earth Recruitment is supporting a growing UK environmental consultancy with the appointment of a Water Ecology Team Lead.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced aquatic ecology or hydro-ecology professional who is ready to take greater ownership of a team, while remaining connected to interesting technical work.

You will lead and develop an established Water Team, oversee complex projects and play an important role in the continued growth of the consultancy's water services.

The role

This is a varied position combining technical leadership, people management, project delivery and business development.

You will:

  • Lead, mentor and develop a team of water ecology professionals

  • Manage workloads, resources, training and professional development

  • Provide technical oversight across complex aquatic and hydro-ecological projects

  • Review reports and ensure high standards of technical delivery

  • Manage project budgets, forecasting and financial performance

  • Develop relationships with existing and prospective clients

  • Lead and contribute to bids, tenders and proposals

  • Help shape the future direction and growth of the Water Team

Projects

The team's work covers a broad range of freshwater and water environment projects, including:

  • Water Framework Directive assessments

  • Nutrient neutrality assessments

  • Habitats Regulations Assessments

  • Environmental Impact Assessments

  • Macroinvertebrate and water quality monitoring

  • Fish population and habitat surveys

  • eDNA and invasive species surveys

  • River habitat surveys

  • Flow gauging and water-level monitoring

  • Marine licensing and flood risk permitting

About you

We are looking for someone with consultancy experience and a strong background in aquatic ecology, freshwater ecology, hydro-ecology or a closely related water environment discipline.

You will ideally have experience of leading people or projects alongside a strong technical understanding of relevant environmental legislation, policy, assessment and survey techniques.

Commercial experience is also important. You should be comfortable developing client relationships and contributing to or leading the process of winning new work.

Most importantly, this could suit someone who wants to have a genuine influence over the direction of a team rather than simply moving into another technical delivery position.

A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle with business insurance are required.

What is on offer?

You will be joining a supportive and expanding multidisciplinary environmental consultancy with opportunities to work alongside specialists across ecology, hydrology, marine science, GIS, habitat management, arboriculture and EIA.

Benefits include 25 days' annual leave, enhanced pension, healthcare cash plan, life insurance, paid professional memberships, external and internal training, performance-related rewards, discounted gym membership and regular company events.

The company actively supports professional development and offers flexibility through a semi-remote/hybrid working model.

Interested?

If you are currently working within aquatic ecology, freshwater ecology or the wider water environment sector and would like to explore a role offering greater leadership, influence and scope for growth, please get in touch.

You do not need to have decided that you definitely want to move. We are very happy to have an initial confidential conversation about the opportunity and whether it fits the direction you would like your career to take.

Please send your CV to Vicky at vicky@oceantoearth.co.uk

Ocean to Earth Recruitment
Elevating Green Growth

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