Associate Director Ecologist (Belfast/ Cork/ Dublin)

Jacobs; Belfast; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension (8%)

Life assurance

Professional development

Volunteer program support

Hybrid & flexible hours

Medical cover & digital GP

Counselling services

Financial planning

Job summary

Jacobs seeks an experienced Principal Ecologist or Associate Director to shape our Irish ecology team within the European ecology business. This is a pivotal role requiring strategic leadership, client engagement and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The successful candidate will drive growth, mentor teams, lead EIA and biodiversity strategies, and help win future work across the UK and Ireland.

Qualifications

• A strong background in terrestrial ecology with significant industry experience.
• Chartered status (or ready to achieve it).
• A strategic mindset, with the ability to contribute to senior leadership decisions.
• Strong client-facing skills and confidence engaging with stakeholders and regulators.
• A flexible approach, with willingness to travel across the UK and Ireland when needed.
• A proactive, hands-on leadership style with strong self-awareness.
• The ability to adapt and thrive across diverse, complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Help steer the strategic direction of the team, contributing to wider UK ecology leadership
• Act as a trusted advisor – the go-to expert for clients, stakeholders and regulators
• Lead high-value client relationships and represent Jacobs externally
• Although you won’t have any defined line-management responsibilities, you’ll drive team growth, resilience and performance through mentoring and empathetic leadership
• Oversee and guide EIA, Appropriate Assessment and biodiversity strategies
• Design and lead ecological monitoring programmes and survey strategies
• Work across disciplines to deliver integrated, innovative project solutions
• Play a key role in identifying, bidding and winning new work
• Champion your team internally, raising its profile across the wider business

Skills

Terrestrial ecology

Strategic leadership

Client facing

Regulatory engagement

UK & Ireland travel

Hands-on leadership

Adaptability

Job description

Overview

At Jacobs, we’re challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world’s most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

We’re looking for an experienced and driven Principal Ecologist or Associate Director to help shape our Irish ecology team – a pivotal role within our European ecology business.

Responsibilities

• Help steer the strategic direction of the team, contributing to wider UK ecology leadership
• Act as a trusted advisor – the go‑to expert for clients, stakeholders and regulators
• Lead high‑value client relationships and represent Jacobs externally
• Although you won’t have any defined line‑management responsibilities, you’ll drive team growth, resilience and performance through mentoring and empathetic leadership
• Oversee and guide EIA, Appropriate Assessment and biodiversity strategies
• Design and lead ecological monitoring programmes and survey strategies
• Work across disciplines to deliver integrated, innovative project solutions
• Play a key role in identifying, bidding and winning new work
• Champion your team internally, raising its profile across the wider business

Qualifications

• A strong background in terrestrial ecology with significant industry experience
• Chartered status (or ready to achieve it)
• A strategic mindset, with the ability to contribute to senior leadership decisions
• Strong client‑facing skills and confidence engaging with stakeholders and regulators
• A flexible approach, with willingness to travel across the UK and Ireland when needed
• A proactive, hands‑on leadership style with strong self‑awareness
• The ability to adapt and thrive across diverse, complex projects

Additional Experience

• Innovative scoping of ecological inputs
• Protected species licensing and biodiversity enhancements
• Project consenting and construction environments
• Stakeholder and regulator engagement
• Planning inquiries and examinations

Benefits

• Up to 8% company contribution into the pension
• Life assurance and income protection scheme
• Reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships
• Support to local communities through our Collectively program which incorporates matched funding, paid volunteering time and charitable donations
• Opportunity to buy/sell annual leave
• Free employee medical cover and digital GP service (UK employees)
• Mindfulness platform (UK employees)
• Dedicated Workplace Support – 11 counselling consultations (UK employees)
• Confidential information & counselling service provided by Optum (UK employees)
• Personalised financial planning and support provided by Origin, with access to certified financial planners (UK employees)
• Enhanced parental leave pay (Irish employees)
• Fertility healthcare and family‑forming benefit (Irish employees)
• Free parental success solution and neurodiversity training benefit (Irish employees)
• Bridge the Gap parental transition programme (Irish employees)
• Hybrid working, part‑time roles, flexible working hours including compressed hours, annualised hours contract (Irish employees)
• Ability for employees to take time off in lieu (Irish employees)

EEO Statement

We are a disability confidence employer and will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

Call to Action

If you’re ready to lead, influence and grow at scale, we’d love to hear from you.