Ornithologist

Penguin Recruitment; Manchester; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

TOIL for survey hours

Training towards accreditation (e.g.,C

Mentors and CPD opportunities

Modern office facilities

Field equipment provided

Diverse ecological projects across the

Collaborative team culture

Job summary

Penguin Recruitment is seeking a motivated ornithologist to join a leading environmental consultancy in Manchester. You will work across field-based surveys and office tasks, contributing to conservation and development projects with flexibility for travel and varied workloads.

The role offers opportunities to advance through training toward professional accreditation, access to mentoring, and modern facilities as part of a collaborative ecology team.

Qualifications

• Strong field experience in ornithology and avian ecology.
• Experience with breeding and wintering bird surveys.
• Ability to travel for survey work and field-based tasks.
• Data collection, analysis, and reporting skills.
• Collaborative teamwork and mentoring junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Conduct breeding and wintering bird surveys across diverse sites.
• Perform vantage point and flight activity surveys as required.
• Carry out habitat assessments and contribute to mitigation strategies.
• Analyze data and contribute to technical reports.
• Support senior ecologists and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Mentor junior staff and assist with internal training.
• Contribute to research, innovation, and best-practice development.

Skills

Bird survey experience

Field survey experience

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Travel willingness

Education

BSc in Ecology or related field

CIEEM accreditation desirable

Job description

A leading multidisciplinary environmental consultancy is seeking a motivated and skilled ornithologist to join its expanding ecology team in Manchester. This role is ideal for someone with strong field experience, a passion for avian ecology, and a desire to contribute to a wide variety of conservation and development projects. The role includes both field-based and office-based work, with a varied workload across sectors such as renewable energy, infrastructure, commercial development, and conservation management. Seasonal flexibility and a willingness to travel for survey work are essential.

Benefits typically include:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Flexible working arrangements and TOIL for survey hours
• Structured training pathways and support toward professional accreditation (e.g., CIEEM)
• Access to experienced mentors and ongoing CPD opportunities
• Modern office facilities and high-quality field equipment
• Opportunities to work on high-profile and diverse ecological projects across the UK
• A friendly, collaborative team culture with regular knowledge-sharing and skills development

The successful candidate will undertake a broad range of ornithological work, including:

• Breeding and wintering bird surveys
• Vantage point and flight activity surveys
• Targeted species surveys for Schedule 1 and Red/Amber list birds
• Habitat assessments and input into ecological mitigation strategies
• Data analysis, interpretation, and contribution to technical reports
• Supporting senior ecologists and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams
• Occasional mentoring of junior staff and assisting with internal training
• Opportunities to contribute to research, innovation, and best-practice development within the team

This is an excellent opportunity for an ornithologist looking to grow their skills, contribute to meaningful ecological outcomes, and play a valued role within a respected consultancy.