Consultant Ecologist

WSP; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Training and development budget

Career progression

Job summary

WSP seeks an ecological professional to plan and undertake surveys, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals and protected species surveys, across UK projects. You’ll prepare tenders and deliverables such as site reports, method statements, and management plans, while supporting Biodiversity Net Gain assessments.

You'll work with clients and GIS specialists, apply the mitigation hierarchy, and contribute to designing mitigation and enhancement measures, ensuring robust ecological assessments

Qualifications

• An appropriate academic qualification and/or experience in a related discipline.
• Membership of CIEEM (or working towards it).
• Understanding of digital data collection tools (Coreo, Fieldmaps, Survey123).
• Professional experience within ecological consultancy or regulatory environments.
• Knowledge of BNG principles and guidance and BNG assessments.
• Clear, accurate report-writing skills and ability to produce robust ecological assessments.
• Familiarity with ecology policy and planning guidance.

Responsibilities

• Planning and undertaking ecology surveys including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals and protected species surveys.
• Preparation of tenders and ecological deliverables including reports and management plans.
• Conducting Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments.
• Working closely with clients, project teams and GIS specialists.
• Applying the mitigation hierarchy and designing mitigation and enhancement measures.
• Client liaison and project management.
• Supporting a diverse, collaborative working environment and contributing to training.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Report-writing

BNG knowledge

Solution-focused

Data collection literacy

Education

Academic qualification in ecology or related discipline

CIEEM membership or working towards it

Tools

Coreo

Fieldmaps

Survey123

Job description

Flexible working is one of our core benefits, helping you maintain a healthy balance between your work, personal life, family, and wellbeing. You’ll be supported by a strong knowledge sharing team, with access to peer support networks, specialist groups, and open collaboration across all experience levels.

You’ll be part of a large, friendly, and diverse team where collaboration, learning and wellbeing sit at the centre of our culture.

You’ll have the chance to work alongside environmental specialists across the UK, broadening your experience through multidisciplinary learning and exposure to global expertise. With structured training, mentoring, and clear progression routes, you’ll have every opportunity to develop your technical ecological skills, grow your project management capabilities, and work towards protected species licences.

You’ll gain hands‑on experience across a range of large‑scale and complex projects, help to shape meaningful biodiversity outcomes and contribute to nature‑positive solutions. With room for innovation in survey design, modelling, mitigation planning, and application of cutting‑edge ecological methods, you’ll be supported to explore and develop your strengths while making a real impact at landscape scale.

Above all, you’ll be part of a team with a strong sense of purpose and take pride in contributing to projects that deliver genuine environmental benefit.

Activities

• Planning and undertaking ecology surveys including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, and protected species surveys.
• Preparation of tenders and a range of ecological deliverables including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, protected species survey reports, method statements and management plans.
• Conducting Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments.
• Working closely with clients, project teams and GIS specialists.
• Applying the mitigation hierarchy and contributing to designing mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures.
• Client liaison and project management.
• Helping to nurture an enthusiastic, supportive, and productive working environment.
• Taking advantage of a generous training and career development budget to complete training (in‑house and external).

Qualifications

• An appropriate academic qualification and/or experience in a related discipline.
• Membership of CIEEM (or working towards it).
• Understanding of digital data collection tools (e.g., Coreo, Fieldmaps, Survey123).
• Professional experience within ecological consultancy or a regulatory environment.
• Knowledge of BNG principles and guidance, and experience of BNG assessments.
• Clear, accurate report‑writing skills and ability to produce robust ecological assessments.
• Familiarity with relevant ecology policy and planning guidance.
• Strong communication skills, solution‑focused and proactive.

We are passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive team. If you’re not sure you match everything in our job description, we encourage you to apply.