Associate Director - Ecology

AECOM; Belfast; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A global consulting firm in Belfast is seeking an Associate Director for their Nature team. The role involves leading ecological consultancy services on major infrastructure and environmental projects. Ideal candidates should have a degree in ecology, proven project management experience, and the ability to lead stakeholder discussions. This position offers a flexible hybrid working model with various professional benefits.

Benefits

Flexible hybrid working model

Career development opportunities

Volunteering days

Qualifications

• Experience leading ecological surveys and managing projects.
• Experience supporting stakeholder discussions.
• Strong ability to develop technical solutions to ecological challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support delivery of ecological consultancy services.
• Oversee ecological project phases ensuring resource management.
• Produce high-quality ecology chapters for environmental statements.

Skills

Leading ecological surveys and assessments

Project management

Stakeholder communication

Technical report writing

Ecological consultancy

Education

Degree in ecology or related field

Membership of an appropriate professional institution

Job description

Company Description

AECOM delivers a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

Work with Us. Change the World.

With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

Job Description

Are you ready to join a team of talented ecologists and shape the future of the environment?

Join our dynamic Nature team as an Associate Director and benefit through our flexible hybrid working model. We are at the forefront of innovation, delivering an exceptional portfolio of Ecology programs and projects through long‑term partnerships with key clients.

In this role you will be the technical lead on a variety of exciting projects, supporting members of the wider team to help deliver the ecological aspects of these projects and collaborating with the wider multidisciplinary AECOM team to maximise the beneficial outcomes for nature and our clients.

Presently, we are working on a wide range of projects, including:

• Major infrastructure projects, especially in the renewable energy sectors
• A range of other projects that are helping to create a better world, including river restoration/flood management schemes, active travel projects, and urban regeneration

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Lead and support delivery of high‑quality ecological consultancy and advisory services to both internal and external clients across our ‘Celtic & South West’ regional team (comprising Scotland, Ireland, Wales and south‑west England)
• Oversee plan, schedule and organise all phases of ecological project work, ensuring necessary resources, budgets and controls are in place to meet both programme and budget requirements
• Support development of technically robust and pragmatic solutions to complex ecological issues
• Lead and support production of ecology chapters for environmental statements and protected species licence applications
• Author or technically check project deliverables to ensure high quality outputs
• Support the continued development of our technical capabilities

Come grow with us.

Become part of our dynamic Nature business, which boasts around 150 professional experts. From species licence holders to experts in impact assessment, habitat creation, ecosystem restoration, enhancement and management we thrive in an inclusive and forward‑thinking environment where your contributions are valued.

Enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well‑being, customized to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model, technical practice networks, AECOM University and volunteering days.

Qualifications

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Degree (or equivalent) in ecology or an associated subject
• Membership of an appropriate professional institution and working towards or obtained Chartered Ecologist or Chartered Environmentalist status, and a holder of protected species survey and/or mitigation licences
• Experience of leading and managing ecological surveys/licensing/impact assessment, as demonstrated by suitable professional experience
• Experience in work‑winning, managing projects, project budgets and leading stakeholder discussions
• Experience of reviewing technical work and supporting wider team members

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at [e-mail]. At AECOM, we value everyone’s unique contributions and perspectives.

If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Additional Information

Interested in the role or curious about life at AECOM? Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects and much more.

For further information about the role, reach out to the recruiter on LinkedIn (Melissa Moody).

About AECOM

ACEM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle—from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public‑ and private‑sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our culture of equity, diversity and inclusion and our commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities drives us forward. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of US$14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, inviting everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

ACEM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well‑being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together—you’ll grow, succeed and thrive as part of a publicly‑traded firm with access to industry‑leading technology and thinking.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential and we’ll help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long‑term condition who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address [e-mail] if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.