Ecology Lead

Sizewell C Company; Leiston; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5% CIP Bonus

28 days holiday plus bank holidays

Pension up to 15% employer contrib.

Professional development opportunities

Flexible benefits - Cash Allowance

Job summary

Sizewell C in Leiston, Suffolk, seeks an experienced Ecology Lead to drive the ecological mitigation and habitat enhancement across the project, reporting to the Water, Ecology & Land SME. You will lead compliance and champion biodiversity gains on a major infrastructure endeavour.

The role requires a degree in Ecology or Environmental Science, leadership, strong stakeholder management, and knowledge of Protected Species Licences.

Qualifications

• Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science or related discipline.
• Experience delivering ecological compliance on large infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of Protected Species Licences and environmental legislation.

Responsibilities

• Lead ecological compliance across the Sizewell C project.
• Champion a nature-first approach delivering biodiversity gains.
• Oversee ecological monitoring and habitat creation.
• Engage regulators, local authorities and stakeholders.
• Ensure licences and environmental commitments are met.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Environmental legislation

Regulatory experience

Education

Degree in Ecology or Environmental Science

Job description

Sizewell C's business is to design, finance, construct, commission, operate, maintain, and eventually decommission the nuclear power plant and related infrastructure at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Overall, whilst the Company is in the construction phase, the Boards' principal focus is on the development and construction of Sizewell C on time, on budget and to the highest quality and safety standards. The Company is maturing to meet all these requirements.

Sizewell C is economically regulated by OFGEM under the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model similar to other UK electricity distribution networks and Thames Tideway.

Sizewell C construction strategy is to replicate the design of Hinkley Point C, using the majority of the same supply chain, but innovating in the way it is delivered to achieve savings in time and cost of around 20%. The CCO will need to be guided by and incorporate lessons learned from the Hinkley Point C commercial delivery to achieve Sizewell C's ambition.

Following Financial Completion and Revenue Commencement, Sizewell C is fully funded and is owned by; The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero representing HM Government, La Caisse, Centrica, EDF and Amber Infrastructure.

Sizewell C is entering an exciting phase of growth as we mature into an independent organisation and continue building one of the UK's largest and most important energy projects. We are now recruiting the below position.

Ecology Lead - Sizewell C

Location: Leiston, Suffolk, (4-5 days a week onsite)

Contract: Permanent, full-time.

Salary: £67,000 - £72,000 - depending on experience

Benefits:

• 5% CIP Bonus
• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension up to 15% employer contribution
• Professional development opportunities
• Flexible benefits - Cash Allowance

Closing date: Thursday 22 October 2026

Help shape the environmental legacy of one of the UK's largest infrastructure projects.

Sizewell C is seeking an experienced Ecology Lead to drive the successful delivery of our ambitious ecological mitigation, compensation and habitat enhancement programme across the project and within our new nature reserves such as Wild Aldhurst in Leiston.

Reporting to the Water, Ecology & Land SME, you will provide visible leadership for ecology across the project, ensuring environmental commitments are delivered while creating lasting benefits for nature in Suffolk and local communities.

What You'll Do

• Lead ecological compliance across the Sizewell C project.
• Champion a nature-first approach that delivers measurable biodiversity gains.
• Ensure compliance with DCO requirements, Protected Species Licences and environmental commitments.
• Act as the Named Ecologist on relevant licences.
• Oversee ecological monitoring, habitat creation and enhancement programmes.
• Build strong relationships with regulators, local authorities and environmental stakeholders.
• Support environmental governance groups and regulatory engagement.
• Drive environmental best practice across project teams and contractors.

About You

You’ll be an experienced environmental professional with a proven track record of delivering ecological compliance and biodiversity gain on large, complex infrastructure or construction projects.

You’ll bring:

• A degree in Ecology, Environmental Science or a related discipline.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management experience.
• Detailed knowledge of environmental legislation and Protected Species Licences.
• Experience working in highly regulated environments.
• Excellent communication, influencing and problem-solving skills.

Experience within major infrastructure, energy, nuclear or engineering projects would be highly advantageous.

Why Join Sizewell C?

• Be part of one of the UK's most significant clean energy projects.
• Help create a lasting environmental and biodiversity legacy.
• Work alongside industry-leading professionals.
• Play a key role in supporting the UK's net zero ambitions.

Behavioural Competences

Humility

Recognise the value brought from different cultures and experiences

Be open to other's points of view and ideas, be willing to debate and to compromise

Positivity

Positively challenge poor quality and performance

Identify solutions at the lowest possible level

Encourage tier 1s and others to bring new ideas forward

Respect

Value the rules and environment in which we operate

Give and receive feedback with respect

Embrace and engage with new people and ideas

Solidarity

One team, working closely together and helping each other

Empowered teams always looking forward.

Shared responsibility for delivery the project outcomes

Clarity

Communicate clearly and consistently

Promote collaboration and team alignment

Clearer and faster decision making

Drive simplification at all levels

When joining Sizewell C, you may wonder why you are contacted by colleagues with an EDF email or see the EDF logo on portals that you access and/or documentation you receive; this is because we have partnered with EDF for the provision of a number of support services whilst we complete a successful transition out of the EDF group.

At Sizewell C we encourage and embrace diversity and how it can improve our experience and performance at work. It is a requirement that those who join us have the right to work in the UK. Whilst sponsorship may be a possibility that we can explore, we are fully committed to local recruitment where possible, and those already holding the right to work in the UK.

To be appointed to this role, you will need to meet the criteria for Security Vetting, which will, ordinarily, require you to have been a resident of the UK for at least three of the past five years.