Principal Ecologist

LUC; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

LUC’s ecology team in London seeks a Principal Ecological Consultant to drive renewable energy and development projects. You will lead tendering, survey design, project delivery, client engagement and reporting, while mentoring junior staff and supporting business development.

Hybrid London-based role with UK travel. The role focuses on ecological surveys, data analysis, and delivering consultancy reports within a science-led team that values collaboration and ownership through an Employee

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of wildlife in the UK gained through further/higher education or practical experience.
• Good understanding of UK nature conservation legislation and policy.
• Understanding of the development management process in England and Wales.
• Experience in habitat and protected species survey, including survey design, data management and analysis.
• Experience in preparing or reviewing ecological consultancy reports, including preliminary ecological appraisals, protected species survey reports and Ecological Impact Assessments.
• Experience of engaging with commercial clients & stakeholders.
• Experience of line management responsibilities.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Willingness to travel across the UK with expenses covered by LUC.
• Willingness to occasional night/anti-social hours during bat survey season.
• Understanding of renewable energy consenting mechanisms.

Responsibilities

• Preparing tender responses and fee proposals.
• Designing, overseeing the implementation of, and delivering ecological surveys.
• 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.
• Contributing to business development activity with support from senior colleagues.

Skills

Tender responses

Ecological surveys design

Project management

Client engagement

Data analysis

Consultancy reporting

Line management

Business development

Wildlife knowledge

UK travel readiness

Renewable energy consent knowledge

Driving licence

Education

Ecology degree or equivalent

Job description

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 Principal Ecological Consultant to join our thriving London team to help deliver our exciting renewable energy generation and transmission orderbook, while also contributing to our wider portfolio of development and nature restoration projects in south east England.

The role will involve:

• Preparing tender responses and fee proposals.
• Designing, overseeing the implementation of, and delivering ecological surveys.
• 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.
• Contributing to business development activity, with support from senior colleagues.

This role would suit an experienced ecological consultant 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 as well as our specialists in Strategic Ecology, Arboriculture, Agri-environment, Landscape Architecture, Planning, Heritage, GIS and Visualisation and support staff.

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 office in London. 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.

Salary: £39,000-£47,400 FTE (plus London allowance of £4,000)

Experience and qualifications

The successful candidate will join our ecology team, contributing to the delivery of projects and supporting the wider 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.
• Experience of line management responsibilities.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Willingness to work across the UK, with some trips away from home (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.

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 that aims to make a difference. With nearly 60 years of experience, we want to make an impact: delivering better futures for nature, people, and places.

Our holistic services support clients in tackling complex land use problems on projects at every scale. Our expert teams collaborate across disciplines to create cities, towns and landscapes for a more sustainable future.

We are employee-owned, which means we invest in our people and operate with kindness. Our creative, forward-thinking professionals are passionate about addressing the climate and biodiversity crises.

We’re leading the way in driving lasting and positive change.

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