Principal Ecologist

Ground Control; Billericay; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunities

Pension scheme

Private GP service

Life insurance

Subsidised gym membership

Holiday buy scheme

Job summary

Ground Control is seeking a Senior Ecologist to lead the delivery of complex ecological projects and co-ordinate multidisciplinary programmes across sectors. You will mentor ecologists, manage client relationships and oversee budgets, ensuring high quality outputs that comply with regulatory standards.

You will review reports, provide technical guidance, and contribute to business growth by leading tenders and developing new services.

Qualifications

• Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science or related discipline.
• Full Membership of CIEEM (MCIEEM).
• Significant ecological consultancy experience at Senior Ecologist level or above (5+ years).
• Licensed for one or more protected species surveys and licensed survey programmes.
• Strong knowledge of UK wildlife legislation, planning policy and best practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of complex ecological projects and programmes with high technical standards.
• Provide expert ecological advice on legislation, Biodiversity Net Gain, protected species and habitat management.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Client relationships

Budget management

Project delivery

Education

Ecology/Environmental Science degree

MCIEEM membership

Job description

You're an experienced ecologist who enjoys helping others succeed just as much as delivering great projects. You combine technical expertise with strong leadership skills, creating an environment where people feel supported, challenged and empowered to do their best work. At Ground Control, you'll play a key role in the growth of our Ecology Team. Alongside leading complex ecological projects and providing expert technical advice, you'll help develop the next generation of ecologists through coaching, mentoring and day-to-day leadership. This is an opportunity to influence project delivery, strengthen client relationships and play a significant role in building a high-performing ecology function. Success in this role isn't just measured by project delivery. It's also reflected in the strength, capability and development of the people around you.

What you'll do:

• Lead the delivery of complex ecological projects and multidisciplinary programmes, ensuring high-quality outcomes for clients while maintaining exceptional technical standards.
• Provide expert ecological advice on legislation, planning policy, Biodiversity Net Gain, protected species and habitat management, helping clients navigate complex environmental challenges.
• Review, approve and sign off technical reports and ecological assessments, ensuring consistency, quality and compliance across all project outputs.
• Manage project portfolios from inception through to completion, overseeing budgets, forecasting, resources and risk to achieve successful commercial and operational outcomes.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, regulators and key stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor and identifying opportunities to grow services.
• Lead major tenders, framework submissions and fee proposals, supporting the continued growth and success of the ecology team.
• Lead, mentor and develop Ecologists and Assistant Ecologists, creating a supportive environment where people can build confidence, capability and technical expertise.
• Provide coaching, technical guidance and constructive feedback, helping team members progress their careers while maintaining high standards across project delivery.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and succession planning initiatives, helping attract and retain talented ecologists as the team continues to grow.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performing culture where knowledge sharing, continuous improvement and professional development are part of everyday work.
• Drive continuous improvement by developing best-practice guidance, improving technical standards and championing innovation across the wider ecology function.

What you'll get:

• The opportunity to lead complex and nationally significant ecology projects across a range of sectors and habitats.
• A highly influential role where your expertise helps shape project delivery, team development and business growth.
• The autonomy to make decisions, drive improvements and help build a growing ecology service.
• The opportunity to shape and grow a developing ecology team while making a lasting impact on people, projects and business performance.
• A leadership role where you'll influence both technical delivery and the professional development of others.
• Exposure to senior stakeholders, strategic projects and multidisciplinary environmental programmes.
• Opportunities to further develop your technical specialisms, leadership capability and commercial expertise.
• A collaborative environment where knowledge sharing, professional development and innovation are encouraged., At Ground Control, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We believe that diversity drives innovation and success, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
• We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic as defined in the Equality Act 2010. We actively support and promote an inclusive culture, ensuring fair and equitable treatment throughout the recruitment process and across all stages of employment, including training, development, promotion, pay, and termination. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants and employees, and to creating a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, or victimisation. We expect all colleagues to uphold our values of dignity, respect, and inclusion. We take a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discriminatory behaviour and are committed to continuous improvement through training, inclusive policies, and accountability at all levels.

Qualifications and experience

• A degree or higher qualification in Ecology, Environmental Science or a related discipline.
• Full Membership of CIEEM (MCIEEM).
• Significant ecological consultancy experience at Senior Ecologist level or above, typically five years or more.
• One or more protected species licences, with demonstrable experience leading and overseeing licensed survey programmes.
• Extensive knowledge of UK wildlife legislation, planning policy and ecological best practice.
• Proven experience managing complex ecological projects, multidisciplinary teams and competing priorities.
• Strong commercial awareness, including experience managing budgets, forecasting, fee proposals and project profitability.
• Demonstrable experience leading, mentoring and developing ecologists, with a genuine passion for helping others succeed.
• The ability to inspire confidence, build capability and create a positive team culture where people can perform at their best.
• Excellent technical reporting, quality assurance and decision-making capabilities.
• Strong client relationship management and business development skills, with the ability to build long-term partnerships.
• Experience with Biodiversity Net Gain, habitat restoration, infrastructure projects, framework contracts or protected species licensing would be highly advantageous.
• A full UK driving licence.

Salary and benefits

• Competitive salary - aligned with your skills and experience
• Performance-linked bonus: Bonus opportunities aligned to your level and contribution.
• Pension scheme - helping you plan for the future
• Recognition schemes - celebrating and rewarding great work
• Private GP service - fast, convenient access to medical support
• Life insurance - providing added peace of mind
• Subsidised gym membership - supporting your health and wellbeing
• Holiday buy scheme - purchase up to 5 additional days of annual leave