Principal Ecologist /Associate Director - Ecology Newcastle upon Tyne

Jacobs; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

24 days holiday

Pension contributions 10%

Health coverage

Employee networks

Parental leave

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Principal Ecologist or Associate Director to lead our Newcastle ecology team within the UK. You will steer strategic direction, oversee biodiversity strategies and EIAs, and lead high‑value client relationships with regulators and authorities across the UK and Ireland.

You’ll drive growth, mentor teams and deliver innovative, cross‑disciplinary solutions in a hybrid working setup that values safety and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Experience leading ecology teams and projects.
• Chartered Ecologist or ready to achieve chartered status.
• Proven ability to engage clients, stakeholders and regulators.

Responsibilities

• Steer the strategic direction of the ecology team and contribute to UK leadership.
• Act as trusted advisor to clients, regulators and stakeholders.
• Lead high‑value client relationships and represent Jacobs externally.
• Drive team growth, resilience and performance through empathetic leadership.
• Oversee EIA, Habitats Regulations Appraisal and biodiversity strategies.
• Design and lead ecological monitoring programs and survey strategies.

Skills

Leadership

Ecology expertise

Strategic thinking

Client engagement

Regulator liaison

Project leadership

Mentoring

Education

Chartered Ecologist

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

• This is your opportunity to help lead, shape and grow one of the UK’s most ambitious ecology teams, and leave a lasting mark on the future of sustainable infrastructure
• You won’t just be delivering projects. You’ll take on leadership of our growing team in Newcastle, with line management responsibilities and be helping set direction, influencing strategy, and building a high-performing team that plays a critical role in some of the most complex and high-profile developments across the North-East of England, the wider UK and Ireland.
• From renewable energy and nuclear infrastructure to major transport and water programmes, your leadership will ensure ecology is at the forefront of decision-making - not an afterthought.
• This is a role where your expertise, vision and leadership will be visible - and where you’ll have the platform to shape both projects and people at scale.

What’s In It For Me?

At Jacobs, this isn’t just a leadership role - it’s a career-defining move.

• Competitive salary We offer compensation that reflects your skills and experience
• 24 days holiday + option to buy a further 10 days
• Robust Pension Contributions We offer enhanced pension contributions up to 10% to secure your future
• Comprehensive Health Coverage Single medical cover and Digital GP service, with options to add your partner and family
• Employee Networks We have a commitment to hiring a diverse workforce and supporting colleagues of different backgrounds
• Family Planning Support Access to fertility healthcare and family planning services
• Enhanced Parental Leave Enjoy enhanced parental leave pay and free membership to employee assistance and parental programs
• Life assurance at 4x your salary
• Income Protection Financial security in case of long-term illness or injury
• Wellbeing Hub Free access to wellbeing apps like Calm and Daily Burn
• Professional Development We cover professional membership fees and provide continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities
• Community Engagement Participate in charity matched-funding, paid volunteering time, and charitable donations

About The Opportunity

• We’re looking for an experienced and driven Principal Ecologist or Associate Director to join our Newcastle team and take on a pivotal leadership role within our UK ecology business.
• You’ll work across an impressive portfolio of projects for clients including Northumbrian Water, Local Authorities, Environment Agency, National Grid, Network Rail & National Highways, while playing a central role in shaping the future of our ecology offering.
• In this role, you will
  • Help steer the strategic direction of the team, contributing to wider UK ecology leadership
  • Act as a trusted advisor - the go-to expert for clients, stakeholders and regulators
  • Lead high-value client relationships and represent Jacobs externally
  • Drive team growth, resilience and performance through strong, empathetic leadership
  • Oversee and guide EIA, Habitats Regulations Appraisal and biodiversity strategies
  • Design and lead ecological monitoring programmes and survey strategies
  • Work across disciplines to deliver integrated, innovative project solutions
  • Play a key role in identifying, bidding and winning new work
  • Champion your team internally, raising its profile across the wider business

This is a rare opportunity to step into a role where you can combine technical excellence, strategic thinking and people leadership - all while working on projects that truly matter.

Here’s what you'll need

• A strong background in terrestrial ecology with significant industry experience
• Chartered status (or ready to achieve it)
• A strategic mindset, with the ability to contribute to senior leadership decisions

Proven experience in line management, mentoring and developing teams

Strong client-facing skills and confidence engaging with stakeholders and regulators

A flexible approach, with willingness to travel across the UK and Ireland when needed

A proactive, hands-on leadership style with strong self-awareness

The ability to adapt and thrive across diverse, complex projects

You’re an experienced ecology leader who brings both credibility and vision.

We’d be especially excited if you bring experience in

• Innovative scoping of ecological inputs
• Protected species licensing and Biodiversity enhancements
• Project consenting and construction environments
• Stakeholder and regulator engagement
• Planning enquiries and examinations

But beyond experience, what really matters is your ability to think differently, challenge the status quo, and spot opportunities to improve how we deliver for our clients.

Why Join Now?

Because this is more than a leadership role - it’s your chance to define the future of ecology within a global organisation while working on projects that shape the world around us.

If you’re ready to lead, influence and grow at scale, we’d love to hear from you.

Jacobs offers hybrid working and a standard 40-hour working week.

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https//www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.