Bat Ecologists

SLR Consulting; Birmingham; Remote; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary with discretionary/

Company pension

Private medical insurance

Life, income, and travel insurance

Salary sacrifice car lease

Volunteering and community giving

Flexible, hybrid and agile working

25 days’ annual leave

Buy or sell leave options

Core working hours

Cross-border remote working

Enhanced maternity/paternity leave

Workplace nursery benefit

Employee Assistance Programme

Mental health support

Job summary

SLR Consulting is seeking licensed bat ecologists to join our Ecology and Biodiversity team across England, with opportunities to work remotely. You will deliver bat surveys, licensing, and mitigation strategies on diverse projects, while developing technical reporting and BER registration expertise.

We welcome ecologists with Natural England Class 2 licences or higher and those aiming for Bat Earned Recognition (Level 1–3). A strong focus on mentorship and policy understanding is valued.

Qualifications

• Must hold Natural England Class 2 bat licence or above.
• Bat Earned Recognition consultant (Level 1–3) or eligible to be accredited.
• Full understanding of UK ecological legislation and policy.
• Experience in bat surveys, licensing, mitigation and supervision.
• Able to mentor junior team members.

Responsibilities

• Undertake a range of bat surveys including daytime and dusk surveys, PRA and related techniques.
• Record and manage survey data using in‑house apps and equipment.
• Complete BER site registrations, EPSL licensing and mitigation works.
• Analyze bat data and contribute to BER registrations and EPSL.
• Supervise mitigation works and contribute to technical reports and bat mitigation strategies.

Skills

Bat surveys

Licensing knowledge

Project supervision

Education

BSc Ecology / Biology / Zoology

MSc desirable

Job description

Bat Ecologists – Licenced Bat Ecologists and Bat Earned Recognition (BER) Level 1-3 Registered Consultant

SLR is seeking multiple licenced bat ecologists (Natural England Class 2 and above) with proven experience in securing mitigation licences. We particularly welcome applications from Bat Earned Recognition registered consultants (Level 1 – 3) or eligible to be BER accredited agents or for individuals looking to become a BER registered consultants to join our expanding Ecology and Biodiversity team in the UK. Opportunities are available across multiple grades. The role can be located across any of our office locations in England or remote. You will work on a diverse portfolio of projects and sectors, particularly including Power, Mining and Minerals and Built Environment delivering high-quality bat surveys, mitigation strategies and technical reporting. This role presents an exciting opportunity to be responsible for the delivery of ecology inputs to large and complex projects, which now represent an increasingly large proportion of our work.

While the advert focuses on bat expertise, we do not pigeonhole our ecologists. If you hold additional ecological skills, whether in other protected species, botany, ornithology, etc – we actively encourage you to continue developing and utilising those competencies and we will ensure the range of work and training available to you enables you to do so.

The role:

Duties will be varied but will include:

• Undertake a range of bat surveys including Daytime Bat Walkover, Daytime Preliminary Roost Assessments (PRA), dusk emergence and rarely dawn return surveys, backtracking surveys, hibernation surveys, Ground Level Tree Assessment (GLTA) and use of advanced bat survey techniques including trapping and radiotracking.
• Record and manage survey data to a high professional standard using our top of the range survey equipment and technology, utilising our dedicated in-house data recording apps and automation software and processes and working closely with the digital team to maximise efficiencies in automation where possible.
• Completing BER site registrations, EPSL licensing and mitigation works
• Accurately analyse bat data in a timely manner and it would be advantageous to hold Certificate of Bat Acoustics Analysis
• Supervising mitigation works and implementing method statements
• Contribute to technical reports, contributing to BER site registrations preparing and leading on European Protected Species Licences (EPSL) and designing and overseeing bat mitigation and compensation strategies for a range of bat species including hibernation and maternity roosts across a range of sites including linear infrastructure projects, complex structures, major power projects and renewable energy projects.

Rewards & Benefits

SLR’s ‘One Team’ culture is at the heart of our business, providing a collaborative and supportive environment where people can develop and grow. Through a structured career framework, regular performance reviews, and support towards chartership, professional qualifications and licences, we offer excellent opportunities for long-term career progression. Our flexible benefits and reward package includes:

• Competitive salary with discretionary bonus

• Company pension

• Private medical insurance

• Life, income, and travel insurance

• Salary sacrifice car lease and cycle‑to‑work schemes

• Volunteering and Community Giving

• Flexible, hybrid and agile working

• 25 days’ annual leave plus flexible public holidays

• Buy or sell leave options

• Core working hours

• Cross‑border remote working and sabbatical opportunities

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave pay

• Workplace Nursery benefit

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Specialist support for mental health, stress and menopause - supporting our people both professionally and personally

About you:

You will have demonstrable experience in bat surveys, licensing, mitigation and supervision (but we welcome experience across a range of different areas of ecological consultancy practice). You should hold a Natural England Class 2 bat licence or above and be able to demonstrate competence in bat survey and mitigation and ideally be a Bat Earned Recognition consultant (Level 1 to 3) or eligible to be accredited.

You will have full understanding of the relevant ecological legislation and policy throughout the UK.

Proactive in developing your own technical knowledge alongside training and share your knowledge to develop and mentor more junior members of the team

BSc Ecology, Biological Science, Zoology or equivalent (MSc desirable) and eligible CIEEM membership (level dependant on grade).

Good theoretical grounding in ecology and environmental assessment

Experience in project management duties including planning and scheduling surveys, budget management and client liaison desirable.

Culture & Inclusion at SLR

Inclusion is fundamental to who we are. We are committed to equal opportunities and foster a workplace where everyone can thrive, supported by active Culture & Inclusion Committees and Employee Networks. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are a Disability Confident Committed employer. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.