Principal Ecologist

Embankment Group; Winchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Private healthcare

Life assurance

Annual leave enhancements

Maternity/Paternity pay

Training & development

Career progression

Job summary

Embankment Group is seeking an experienced Principal Ecologist to lead the London ecology team within a respected environmental consultancy. The role combines technical leadership, project management and client engagement to grow bird ecology capabilities.

The successful candidate will manage complex projects, mentor colleagues and drive high-quality reporting for planning and consent applications, while expanding opportunities with clients and regulators in infrastructure and development.

Qualifications

• Significant experience delivering ecological projects within a consultancy environment.
• Strong general ecological knowledge with ornithology expertise.
• Experience designing and managing bird survey programmes across habitats and project types.
• Ability to interpret survey findings and provide practical recommendations.
• Proven project management experience, including budgets, deadlines and teams.
• Strong technical report-writing skills supporting planning and consenting applications.
• Experience mentoring junior colleagues.
• Confidence advising clients and coordinating with stakeholders.
• Interest in growing the ecology team's ornithology services.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex ecological projects across infrastructure, renewable energy, residential development and conservation.
• Design and deliver ornithological survey programmes, impact assessments and mitigation strategies.
• Manage project budgets, programmes, technical inputs and stakeholder expectations.
• Produce and review high-quality technical reports supporting planning and consenting applications.
• Provide technical leadership and quality assurance across ecological reports, surveys and advice.
• Act as a trusted adviser to clients throughout the planning and consenting process.
• Mentor and support colleagues within the ecology team.
• Help develop technical best practice and grow the consultancy’s ornithology services.
• Build strong relationships with clients, regulators and multidisciplinary project teams.

Skills

Ornithology

Ecology projects

Project management

Technical reporting

Mentoring

Commercial awareness

Job description

Principal Ecologist – London

Embankment Group is recruiting on behalf of an established environmental and planning consultancy seeking an experienced Principal Ecologist to join its growing London ecology team.

This senior position combines technical leadership, project management, client engagement and team development. The successful candidate will be an accomplished ecological generalist with a strong ornithology specialism and will play an important role in expanding the consultancy’s bird ecology capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead complex ecological projects across infrastructure, renewable energy, residential development and conservation.
• Design and deliver ornithological survey programmes, impact assessments and mitigation strategies.
• Manage project budgets, programmes, technical inputs and stakeholder expectations.
• Produce and review high-quality technical reports supporting planning and consenting applications.
• Provide technical leadership and quality assurance across ecological reports, surveys and advice.
• Act as a trusted adviser to clients throughout the planning and consenting process.
• Mentor and support colleagues within the ecology team.
• Help develop technical best practice and grow the consultancy’s ornithology services.
• Build strong relationships with clients, regulators and multidisciplinary project teams.

Candidate Requirements

• Significant experience delivering ecological projects within a consultancy environment.
• Strong general ecological knowledge with demonstrable expertise in ornithology.
• Experience designing and managing bird survey programmes across a range of habitats and project types.
• The ability to interpret survey findings and provide clear, practical and proportionate recommendations.
• Proven project management experience, including responsibility for budgets, deadlines and project teams.
• Strong technical report-writing skills and experience supporting planning and consenting applications.
• Experience contributing to inquiry or appeal work would be advantageous.
• Confidence advising clients and working with a range of project stakeholders.
• Experience mentoring and developing junior colleagues.
• Strong commercial awareness and an interest in supporting the continued growth of the ecology team.

Benefits

• Agile and flexible working
• Private healthcare
• Life assurance
• Generous annual leave with the option to buy or sell additional days
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Professional training and development
• Clear opportunities for career progression