Ecologist

LUC; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

LUC is hiring a Consultant Ecologist to join the Bristol or Cardiff teams, contributing to renewable energy projects and broader ecological work across the UK. The role blends field surveys, data analysis, and client liaison in a flexible, employee-owned environment.

Based in Bristol or Cardiff with a hybrid working model, the role also involves travel to sites and client offices across Wales and the south-west of England.2

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of UK wildlife gained through education or practical experience.
• Knowledge of UK nature conservation legislation and policy.
• Understanding of the development management process in England and Wales.
• Wide-ranging habitat and protected species survey experience.
• Experience in ecological consultancy reports and EIAs.

Responsibilities

• Design and oversee a wide range of ecological surveys.
• Manage or co-manage projects in LUC’s PM system.
• Engage with project clients and stakeholders.
• Analyse and interpret ecological data.
• Prepare consultancy reports.
• Line manage junior colleagues.
• Prepare tender responses and fee proposals.
• Contribute to business development activity.

Skills

Wildlife knowledge

Nature conservation law

Development management England/Wales

Habitat surveys

Protected species surveys

Client engagement

UK driving licence

UK travel willingness

Education

Ecology degree

Tools

Project management system

Job description

This role can be based in either our Bristol or Cardiff office.

LUC’s ecology team is passionate about creating opportunities for wildlife and people to thrive together.

With established teams in London, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Sheffield, Edinburgh and Glasgow, we support a huge range of projects, at local and national levels. We’re enthusiastic about finding new ways to apply emerging ecological principles and methods to the most challenging of policy and development projects, and we have fun working together along the way.

We’re currently supporting some of the most exciting projects in UK consultancy. Working alongside colleagues and partners, we will apply our skills to projects ranging from energy generation to historic building restoration, regenerative agriculture to strategic biodiversity enhancement plans. All with the aim of achieving our strategic mission of delivering better futures for nature, people and place.

We require a Consultant Ecologist, or a Senior Ecological Consultant, to join our Bristol or Cardiff teams to help deliver our exciting renewable energy generation and transmission orderbook in Wales, while also contributing to our wider portfolio of development and nature restoration projects in south-west England.

This role would suit experienced ecological consultants ready to take the next step in their career, in a science-led team. There will also be opportunities to collaborate with our wider ecology team, based in London, Manchester, Sheffield, Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as our specialists in Strategic Ecology, Arboriculture, Agri-environment, Landscape Architecture, Planning, Heritage, GIS and Visualisation and support staff.

The role will involve:

• Designing, overseeing the implementation of, and delivering a wide range of ecological surveys.
• Managing, or co-managing projects in line with LUC’s internal Project Management System.
• Engaging with project clients and their stakeholders.
• Analysing and interpreting ecological data.
• Preparing consultancy reports.
• Line managing junior colleagues.
• Preparing tender responses and fee proposals.
• Contributing to business development activity, with support from senior colleagues.

This is also an opportunity to work for a sincere, employee-owned company with strong values and a particular focus on addressing the climate emergency.

The role includes the opportunity to share and participate actively in the management and ownership of the business through the Employee Ownership Trust, which places full ownership of the company with the employees.

The role is based in LUC’s offices in Cardiff, Edinburgh or Glasgow. We work in a hybrid model with people being in the office a minimum of two days per week. There will also be travel required to visit sites, client offices and other office locations.

A full-time role is based on 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday). However, LUC has a strong track record in flexible working, and we have been recognised for our flexible working culture, so we are happy to discuss a range of flexible working options for this role including part time hours (minimum 30 hours per week) if desired.

Experience and qualifications

The successful candidate will complement our existing enthusiastic and dedicated ecology team. You will share our commitment to high-quality science and be motivated to grow your ecology field skills.

• Strong understanding of wildlife in the UK, gained through further / higher education or practical experience.
• Good understanding of UK nature conservation legislation and policy.
• An understanding of the development management process in England and Wales.
• Wide ranging experience in habitat and protected species survey, including survey design, data management and analysis.
• Experience in the preparation or review of ecological consultancy reports, including preliminary ecological appraisals, protected species survey reports and Ecological Impact Assessment.
• Experience of engaging with commercial clients and their stakeholders.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Willingness to work across the UK, particularly in south-Wales and south-west England, including regular trips away from home and overnight stays (all costs and expenses covered by LUC).
• Willingness to occasionally work antisocial hours, particularly during the bat survey season when night shift work may be necessary.
• An understanding of renewable energy consenting mechanisms.
• Experience of line management responsibilities.
• A protected species licence (bat, great crested newt and dormouse licences of particular interest).

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

LUC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. We value the differences, needs and contributions a diverse workforce represents, and we strive to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all our people related activities.

About LUC:

LUC is an award-winning environmental consultancy celebrating 60 years of impact. Since 1966, we have been dedicated to a single mission: delivering better futures for nature, people, and places. We have a Charter which commits us to focusing on projects that contribute meaningfully towards tacking the climate and biodiversity crises.

As an independent, employee-owned business, we combine a rich heritage with a forward-looking approach. Our multidisciplinary teams – spanning planning, impact assessment, landscape design, ecology, and geospatial services – collaborate to tackle complex land-use challenges across the UK.

From restoring historic environments to driving climate resilience and nature recovery, we are proud of our past. But in our 60th year, our focus is firmly on the future and driving positive change for the next generation.

Our Mission is to deliver better futures for nature, people and places.

Just like our founders, we’re dedicated to leaving this world in a better place. And we believe we have the power to create a positive legacy through all our projects. We do this by guiding our clients, as well as influencing national and local policy.

Of course, we recognise that change is inevitable. But we also recognise that cities, towns and landscapes of the future must work to help nature recover and to create a fairer society for all. We are committed to creating beautiful, inclusive places that support the health and wellbeing of the people and environments impacted by such inevitable change.

Our Values are what make us.

They reflect our heritage, express the attitudes of our people, and capture what our clients tell us we’re like to work with. Our values are timeless, informing the actions of every generation of LUC.

They guide our big thinking as much as our daily working lives – from the projects we pursue, to how we manage people, to how we resolve conflicting interests.

• We act with professionalism and integrity
• We have the courage and openness to lead
• We collaborate to achieve shared goals
• We act with passion, insight and creativity