Principal Ecologist - Darwin

SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd; Darwin; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

SLR Consulting Australia Pty Ltd in Darwin is seeking a Principal Ecologist to lead complex ecological projects, mentor teams, and nurture client relationships across sectors. You will drive the technical delivery and oversee field surveys, reporting, and cross-disciplinary collaboration within a growing APAC Ecology group.

You will design, lead and quality-check field survey programmes, manage resources, and contribute to business development while delivering high-quality outcomes for clients.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level or higher in a relevant science field and accreditation as required.
• 10+ years of ecological experience in consulting, government, or industry roles.
• Proven ability to win, lead and manage ecological projects across sectors.
• In-depth knowledge of current legislative and regulatory frameworks affecting ecology.
• Experience designing flora and fauna field surveys and monitoring programmes.
• Strong report writing skills and ability to deliver high-quality publications.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; collaborative team player.
• Desirable botanical knowledge or experience.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality, clear reports.
• Lead and manage complex deliverables across sectors.
• Design and implement field survey programmes for ecological monitoring and impact assessment.
• Manage resourcing and set up project teams for success.
• Develop client relationships and coordinate with internal SLR teams.
• Leverage existing networks to win work and grow business.
• Coach and develop team members and support personal development plans.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Report Writing

Communication

Team Collaboration

Education

Tertiary qualification in Science / Environmental Science / Environmental Management / Natural Resources

Job description

About the business and the role

At SLR we Make Sustainability Happen. SLR is an international environmental consultancy with a globally recognised reputation for providing high quality tailored services. With 1,000+ staff in APAC alone, we provide consultancy advice and support on a wide range of strategic and site-specific issues to a diverse and growing base of business, regulatory and governmental clients. We celebrate a ‘One Team Culture’, where bringing together diversity of thought and expression is key to building the best team to deliver excellent results. We have an exciting and rare opportunity within our Ecology team in Darwin, driven by a growing pipeline of projects across a broad range of industry sectors. You will join a tight‑knit team of local Ecologists while also being part of our broader APAC Ecology group of more than 150 consultants across terrestrial, aquatic and marine environments. Following the growth in many of our teams, this Principal role places strong emphasis on technical leadership to ensure the consistent delivery of the high‑quality outcomes our clients expect. The role also encompasses mentoring and promoting professional development across our teams, managing key client relationships, and contributing to business development to support the continued growth of the team.

Job tasks and responsibilities

• Delivering clear and precise, high‑quality reports
• Project managing complex deliverables across a range of sectors and at times, working within multidisciplinary teams
• Lead the design and implementation of field survey programmes for ecological monitoring and impact assessment.
• Lead on resourcing requirements, ensuring the right teams are on projects, and project teams are set up for success.
• Developing, facilitating and enhancing effective relationships with our clients and internal SLR team members
• Bringing with you an established network and proven ability to win work will be highly advantageous
• Coaches, mentors and develop team members.
• Support the development of personal development plans and training plans covering consulting and technical skills.

Skills and experience

• An appropriate tertiary qualification in Science, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Natural Resources or in another related field
• 10+ years' experience in an ecological role in the environmental consulting sector or an equivalent role in industry/Government, including undertaking ecological surveys and report production
• Demonstrated experience winning, leading and managing projects
• In‑depth knowledge of relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience in the design and implementation of flora and fauna field surveys and monitoring programmes
• Mature report writing and computer skills, with demonstrated ability to prepare high quality written material for publication
• Proven ability to work to deadlines and manage multiple tasks
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary projects
• Strong communication skills – clear, persuasive, and confident in both verbal and written communication.
• Collaborative team player – works effectively across Practices and geographic areas, with a One Team mindset.
• Strategic problem solver – analytical, resourceful, decisive, solutions‑oriented
• Experience of team leadership
• Although not essential, botanical knowledge and experience is desirable.

Our Benefits

We are proud of our unique culture where we work together to collaborate on projects to get the best possible outcome for our clients. Whether you’re working in the office, from home or a mix of the two, we recognise that every person is different, and our benefits aim to ensure that we cater for all. You can find a comprehensive list here.

We’re Making Sustainability Happen. We don’t have all the answers to the complex sustainability challenges faced by humanity today. But we’re working on it. We are a consultancy with 4,500+ employees, working on projects in over 125 countries around the world. When you join SLR, you’ll work alongside some of the world’s leading advisors and technicians on projects of global importance in the environmental space. We know sustainability starts from within. And no matter how good we are today, we can always do better. We continually work on our internal ethics to set the standard for organisations and reflect the advice we give to clients.