Ecologist/ Senior Ecologist

AtkinsRéalis; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible holiday allowances

Training and development opportunities

Equality, diversity & inclusion focus

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis is seeking an Ecologist to join our Scottish team, primarily based in Glasgow. You will deliver ecological input on infrastructure projects, lead on ECoW duties, plan surveys, and work with multi-disciplinary teams to design mitigation and manage licences.

You will develop reports and support bids while promoting innovation and biodiversity enhancements in line with planning requirements. Flexibility for hybrid working and travel across Scotland is expected.

Qualifications

• Degree in ecology or life sciences or closely related field.
• Membership of CIEEM or equivalent, AtkinsRéalis to cover costs.
• Strong understanding of UK wildlife legislation.
• Competent to lead protected species surveys per CIEEM framework.
• Experience implementing ecological mitigation on site during construction.
• Ability to advise on ecological risk for contractors during build.

Responsibilities

• Provide ecological input across diverse projects and manage budgets.
• Act as Ecological Clerk of Works on major design and build schemes.
• Plan and coordinate field surveys and interpret results.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders.
• Design and coordinate ecological mitigation and licence work.
• Prepare ecological reports, assessments and compliance documents.
• Support bids, client relationships and risk management.

Skills

Ecology knowledge

UK wildlife legislation

Protected species surveys

Report writing

Project management

Stakeholder liaison

Field surveys

Education

Ecology or life sciences degree

Job description

Overview

At AtkinsRéalis, our team of ecologists work throughout the UK to deliver a diverse range of challenging and exciting projects that benefit our clients, biodiversity and society.

As we grow and expand our portfolio across Scotland, supporting an increasing pipeline of projects and clients spanning all areas of infrastructure development and upgrade, we are seeking an enthusiastic Ecologist to join our established Scottish ecology team. This role will support our clients, contribute to the development of new approaches to our work, and offer the opportunity to develop a career across all aspects of project delivery, working on projects that shape Scotland's'infrastructure and natural environment. Although you will be aligned to our Glasgow office, all locations will be considered.

Joining us, you will have the opportunity to contribute to nationally significant and high-profile projects, with many of our projects winning awards for biodiversity enhancements, innovation, and knowledge sharing. Our ecology team have previously been awarded CIEEM Large-Scale Consultancy of the Year Award and been highly commended over a number of years.

Please see a link to our AtkinsRéalis Ecology video We are the Ecology Team on Vimeo
At AtkinsRéalis we are fully committed to promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and work hard to make everyone feel respected, empowered and able to realise their full potential as important members of our team. Flexible working is a core part of our culture and we appreciate that different people have different priorities. We recognise that a healthy work/life balance is integral to wellbeing and we are extremely supportive of individual requirements for flexible and remote working.

Read more about how you can thrive with us: Equality, diversity & inclusion in the UK & Europe (atkinsrealis.com)

Your role

• Providing ecological input to a varied range of projects across different sectors, including leading on infrastructure projects, managing project programmes and budgets.
• Undertaking the role of Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) on large and significant design and build projects covering a range of ecological constraints, providing tool-box talks, monitoring compliance with planning conditions, protected species licences and method statements.
• Planning, coordinating and undertaking field surveys; analysing and interpreting survey results.
• Collaborating with our multi-disciplinary teams.
• Designing and co-ordinating ecological mitigation.
• Authoring and checking a range of ecological reports and licence applications.
• Managing work enquiries, preparing bids and building client relationships
• Candidate will actively identify, raise, manage and mitigate risks, particularly within a Project/Framework environment.
• Candidate will proactively provide innovation on projects and within the ecology team.

About you

• A degree in ecology or life sciences or closely related field.
• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), or equivalent. AtkinsRéalis to cover membership costs.
• Strong understanding of UK wildlife legislation.
• Strong protected species survey/field identification skills, including demonstrable competency to capable level in line with CIEEM's Competency Framework to lead protected species surveys is essential.
• Ideally Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) Level 3, or above, or be able to demonstrate that skills are equivalent to this.
• Experience of implementing and monitoring ecological mitigation on site, during construction (e.g. translocations, watching briefs, exclusion zones, habitat protection measures).
• Ability to act as a first point of contact for contractors and advise on ecological risk during construction and deliver practical and proportionate mitigation solutions in line with nature conservation legislation.
• Strong skills in report writing and record keeping, including preparing Preliminary Ecological Assessments, Ecological Impact Assessments, site visit reports and compliance audit trails.
• Protected species survey licence(s) are desirable but not essential, a NatureScot bat licenced ecologist is particularly desirable. Demonstrable experience of working under protected species licences for development either as the ecologist overseeing the works or operating under the instruction of named licence holder is beneficial.
• Strong collaborative behaviours to interface with multi-disciplinary teams, market teams, and other stakeholders.
• An understanding of requirement for biodiversity enhancements in line with National Planning Framework 4, and able to demonstrate awareness of the key principals is desirable. Must be able to distinguish and determine between enhancements and compensation and advise on construction of these elements and programme timing.
• Ability and willingness to travel for to site across Scotland, including a full UK/EEC driving licence.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We are AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's'infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be.

So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees.

As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria.

If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

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