Aquatic Ecologist | Expression Of Interest

Stantec; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid / Flexible working

Private medical insurance

Enhanced pension plan

Annual leave

Job summary

Stantec is expanding its Freshwater Aquatic Ecology team and inviting expressions of interest from aquatic ecologists across all grades. You will help protect, enhance and restore freshwater environments across the UK and Ireland, working on nationally significant projects with a multidisciplinary team.

Join a collaborative culture that supports growth, mentoring and technical development. The role offers hybrid/flexible working and opportunities to influence capability, service development and

Qualifications

• Degree in Aquatic Ecology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Fisheries Science or related discipline.
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. CIEEM, IFM or CIWEM); chartered status desirable for senior roles, or willingness to work toward accreditation.
• Experience undertaking, managing or interpreting freshwater ecological surveys and assessments.
• Knowledge of environmental legislation, planning policy and regulatory frameworks applicable to the jurisdictions where you work.
• Experience in freshwater ecology areas such as fish, macrophyte, macroinvertebrate or diatom surveys; fish passage; habitat surveys; hydroecology; river restoration; EcIA/EIA/Environmental Statement; HRA or WFD.

Responsibilities

• Deliver freshwater ecological expertise across a diverse portfolio of UK and Ireland projects.
• Contribute to planning, survey design, environmental assessment and project delivery.
• Collaborate with ecology, hydrology, hydrogeology and engineering specialists to provide integrated solutions.

Skills

Technical reporting

Written communication

Verbal communication

Client relationships

Project delivery

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Degree in Aquatic Ecology or related

Tools

R

Job description

The Opportunity

Join our Freshwater Aquatic Ecology Team

We are growing our Freshwater Aquatic Ecology team and are looking to connect with talented aquatic ecologists who are passionate about protecting, enhancing and restoring freshwater environments across the UK and Ireland.

We welcome expressions of interest from aquatic ecologists across all grades, from Consultant through to Senior Principal. Whether you are looking to develop your technical expertise or seeking an opportunity to help shape the future direction of a growing team, we would love to hear from you.

You will work on nationally significant and technically challenging projects, collaborate with a supportive and multidisciplinary team, and help clients deliver sustainable development while protecting and enhancing the freshwater environment.

As our team continues to grow organically, there are opportunities to influence technical capability, mentoring, service development and the delivery of projects across the UK and Ireland. We are committed to creating an environment where people are supported to grow, develop technical specialisms and pursue their own professional interests whilst contributing to the success of the wider team.

We are proud of the collaborative and supportive culture we have built, where knowledge sharing, teamwork and professional development are valued alongside technical excellence.

Working alongside regional and national technical leaders, you will play a key role in delivering freshwater aquatic ecology expertise across a diverse portfolio of projects, supporting clients from the earliest stages of planning and survey design through to environmental assessment, project delivery and long‑term monitoring.

We are actively interested in speaking with candidates across multiple grades and locations throughout the UK and Ireland and recognise that great talent can come from any location.

What You’ll Be Working On

• Strategic water resource and drought resilience schemes;
• Nationally significant infrastructure projects;
• River restoration and nature recovery initiatives;
• Fisheries and fish passage assessments;
• Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments;
• Freshwater ecological monitoring programmes;
• Hydropower and renewable energy developments; and
• Ecological and environmental impact assessments.

No two projects are the same. Your work will directly contribute to understanding, protecting, enhancing and restoring rivers, lakes, reservoirs, canals and other freshwater habitats.

You will also have opportunities to collaborate with specialists across ecology, hydrology, hydrogeology, geomorphology, hydraulic modelling, environmental planning and engineering, providing integrated solutions to complex environmental challenges.

About You

You’ll Have

• A degree in Aquatic Ecology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Fisheries Science or a related discipline;
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. CIEEM, IFM or CIWEM), with chartered status desirable for more senior roles, or a willingness to work towards professional accreditation;
• Experience undertaking, managing or interpreting freshwater ecological surveys and assessments;
• Knowledge of relevant environmental legislation, planning policy and regulatory frameworks applicable to the jurisdictions in which you work;
• Experience in one or more areas of freshwater ecology, which may include:
• Fish, macrophyte, macroinvertebrate or diatom surveys and assessments;
• Fish passage and barrier assessments;
• Aquatic habitat surveys and assessments (e.g. habitat walkovers, RHS, RCA and MoRPh );
• Hydroecology and environmental flows;
• River restoration and nature‑based solutions;
• Ecological and Environmental Impact Assessment, including EcIA , EIA and Environmental Statement inputs;
• Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) or equivalent; or
• WFD assessment and compliance;
• The ability to undertake technical reporting and communicate scientific information clearly and accurately;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; and
• The ability to contribute to project delivery, client relationships and technical guidance at a level appropriate to your experience.

For Principal and Senior Principal grades, we would also welcome experience in

• Providing technical leadership and mentoring;
• Designing and managing freshwater survey and monitoring programmes;
• Managing projects, programmes, budgets and multidisciplinary workstreams;
• Developing and maintaining strong client and regulatory relationships;
• Supporting business development and preparing technical and commercial proposals;
• Undertaking technical review and quality assurance;
• Leading complex environmental assessments; and
• Supporting the growth and development of technical services and team capability.

If your experience does not tick every box, we still encourage you to apply. We hire people, not checklists

Particular Areas of Interest

Skills

• Macrophyte survey, assessment and reporting , including macrophyte identification, application of WFD survey methodologies, and interpretation of LEAFPACS outputs for ecological classification and assessment; and
• Aquatic ecological data analysis using R , including data management, statistical analysis, data visualisation, reproducible workflows and the interpretation of freshwater ecological datasets.

Why Join Us

• We put people first: We're proud of our friendly, inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels valued and driven to succeed.
• We are driven to achieve: Named in the top 50 companies to work by Glassdoor 2025. Recognised by Corporate Knights as one of the world's top 10 most sustainable companies in 2025. Named 'Best Place to Work' and 'International Consulting Firm of the Year' at the NCE Awards 2024.
• We do what is right: Industry‑leading training and development, as well as paid professional subscriptions. A professional progression plan, supporting you to become chartered.
• We are better together: A supportive and collaborative team environment and Early Careers peer group, and a wider ERG network (see more on our ERGs here: Stantec Employee Resource Groups)
• Growth: We're on an exciting growth journey across the UK - we want you to be part of it!
• Great Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus schemes, enhanced pension plan, annual leave with the option to buy/sell additional days, private medical insurance, group income protection & life assurance included as standard, as well as discounted gym membership and lots more.
• Hybrid / Flexible working: Enjoy a healthy work‑life balance with our hybrid approach.

#UKWater

About Stantec

The Stantec community unites more than 34,000 employees working in over 450 locations across 6 continents. We have been working with our clients and communities in the UK for over 150 years. We plan, design, deliver and manage the development and infrastructure needed to support the creation of sustainable, healthy and prosperous communities.

Our teams provide effective and relevant solutions, translating our clients’ vision into valued consents, deliverable plans for projects and programmes, and efficient designs for delivery, based on technical excellence and deep market insights. We deal with today’s challenges, but also keep a fairer, better tomorrow in sight, looking at how we deliver clean growth, support radical changes in our economy and meet the needs of future communities.

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment.

Building an inspired, inclusive work environment that attracts, supports, and develops world‑class talent is a crucial key to our success. If you are excited by this role but worry that your experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply.

At Stantec we want you to perform your best at every stage of the recruitment process and are committed to ensuring it is accessible to all. If you need any support or require adjustments to be made then please contact [email protected] and we will talk to you about how we can support you.