Ecologist

CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Bonus and professional development

Diverse high-profile projects

Job summary

Davidson-Watts Ecology Ltd is a specialist ecological consultancy delivering surveys, assessments, and mitigation for diverse clients. The Ecologist will contribute to fieldwork and technical delivery across projects, growing autonomy and licensing experience under senior guidance.

The role emphasises practical field delivery with potential to develop client-facing skills, project management and mentoring as experience grows, with a collaborative team environment.

Qualifications

• A relevant degree (or equivalent experience) in ecology, zoology, conservation, or a related discipline.
• 2 years relevant experience in ecological consultancy or fieldwork (graduate/assistant ecologists with strong survey exposure will be considered).
• Working towards, or holding, a bat survey licence (or equivalent protected species survey experience).
• Experience of, or enthusiasm for, all bat survey types, including trapping and radio-tracking.
• Basic habitat and protected species survey skills (e.g. UKHab/Phase 1 habitat survey).
• Good ecological report writing skills and attention to detail.
• Associate membership (or eligibility) of CIEEM.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel for site work, including night work.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the full range of ecological assessments, from PEA/PRA through to EcIA/ES chapters and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) calculations.
• Undertake and/or assist with species-specific surveys.
• Undertake habitat surveys.
• Undertake all bat survey types, including trapping and radio-tracking.
• Assist with the preparation of bat licence method statements and site registration documents.
• Assist with the implementation and monitoring of mitigation licences, acting as accredited agent or licensed assistant.
• Maintain accurate survey data, records and mapping in line with company standards.
• Participate in non-technical team activities, including team meetings and Health and Safety practices.

Skills

Ecology degree

Bat survey licence

Ecological surveys

UKHab/Phase 1 habitat survey

Driving licence

Education

Degree in ecology/zoology/conservation

Tools

GIS software

Job description

About Davidson-Watts Ecology Ltd

Davidson-Watts Ecology Ltd (DWE) is a specialist ecological consultancy with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality ecological advice, surveys, and solutions. We work with a wide range of clients including developers, conservation NGOs, local authorities/statutory agencies, and private landowners. We are leaders in the use of novel approaches to survey, assessment and mitigation, underpinned by our own in-house research and development programme. Our ethos is to combine scientific rigour with practical, client focussed outcomes, to promote sustainable development and nature recovery.

Role Purpose

The Ecologist will play an active role in the delivery of ecological survey and assessment work across our project portfolio. The postholder will assist with the full range of ecological assessments, species and habitat surveys, and protected species licensing documentation, working under the guidance of senior colleagues and building towards increasing autonomy and their own protected species licence. The role is primarily fieldwork and technical delivery focused, with opportunities to develop client-facing, project management and mentoring skills as experience grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with the full range of ecological assessments, from PEA/PRA through to EcIA/ES chapters and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) calculations.
• Undertake and/or assist with species-specific surveys.
• Undertake habitat surveys.
• Undertake all bat survey types, including trapping and radio-tracking.
• Assist with the preparation of bat licence method statements and site registration documents.
• Assist with the implementation and monitoring of mitigation licences,acting as accredited agent or licensed assistant.
• Maintain accurate survey data, records and mapping in line with company standards.
• Participate in non-technical team activities,including team meetings and Health and Safety practices.

Essential Criteria

• A relevant degree (or equivalent experience) in ecology, zoology, conservation, or a related discipline.
• 2 years relevant experience in ecological consultancy or fieldwork (graduate/assistant ecologists with strong survey exposure will be considered).
• Working towards, or holding, a bat survey licence (or equivalent protected species survey experience).
• Experience of, or enthusiasm for, all bat survey types, including trapping and radio-tracking.
• Basic habitat and protected species survey skills (e.g. UKHab/Phase 1 habitat survey).
• Good ecological report writing skills and attention to detail.
• Associate membership (or eligibility) of CIEEM.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel for site work, including night work.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience with GIS/mapping software.
• Experience or particular interest in specific taxa surveys (e.g. dormice, birds, reptiles/amphibians).
• Enthusiasm for progressing towards a Senior Ecologist role and gaining a personal mitigation licence.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary dependent on experience.
• Annual performance bonus and special bonus awards
• Hybrid working with flexibility to balance office, home, and site-based work.
• Unlimited ongoing professional development and training.
• Opportunities to work on diverse and high-profile projects, including work in New Zealand and the Pacific.
• A supportive, collaborative, and friendly working environment within a growing consultancy.