Principal Ecologist (EMEC)

Nottinghamshire Wildlife; Nottingham; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Personalised development programme

Multi-disciplinary business

Job summary

EMEC, the ecology consultancy part of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, is seeking a Principal Ecologist to lead our Ecology team and join EMEC's Senior Management Team. You will provide senior ecological judgement, oversee quality, and ensure capacity and development across the service.

You will shape strategy with the Consultancy Director, manage resources, KPIs, and contribute to major tenders and opportunities while maintaining high technical standards and client delivery.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in ecological consultancy.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Ecology department and take overall responsibility for its performance, quality, capacity and development.

Skills

Ecology consultancy

Team leadership

Technical judgement

Portfolio management

Commercial awareness

Client engagement

Wildlife legislation

Forecasting

Communication

CIEEM membership

Education

Relevant degree

CIEEM membership

Job description

Principal Ecologist (EMEC)

Closing date: Sunday 25 October 2026 Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 dependent upon experience Contract type: Permanent / Working hours: Full time Location: The Old Ragged School, Brook St, Nottingham, NG1 1EA

We are looking for a Principal Ecologist to lead our Ecology team and join EMEC's Senior Management Team.

The opportunity

EMEC is an established environmental consultancy delivering ecology, land management and project management services across infrastructure, development and the public and private sectors. Our work ranges from specialist environmental consultancy to major multidisciplinary projects, bringing together our own teams, subcontractors and partners to deliver practical solutions for clients and lasting benefits for nature. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, all our profits go directly to supporting its work for nature.

We are looking for a Principal Ecologist to lead our Ecology team and join EMEC's Senior Management Team. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for the overall performance and development of our Ecology service. You will lead an experienced team, maintain high technical standards and make sure we have the skills, capacity and processes needed to deliver consistently for our clients and develop our people.

The role goes beyond technical ecology. Working closely with the Consultancy Director and other members of the Senior Management Team, you will contribute to the direction and management of EMEC and take responsibility for delivering agreed areas of our strategy and business plan. You will use project, financial and operational information to understand how the Ecology team is performing, anticipate future requirements and make decisions about priorities, resources and development.

You will retain an important technical role, providing senior ecological judgement, oversight and quality assurance, particularly on complex or higher-risk work. However, we don't expect the Principal Ecologist to personally hold every technical specialism within the team. Our Senior Ecologists will take lead roles in particular technical areas and team leadership, allowing the Principal to focus on the overall quality, capability and performance of the Ecology service.

You will also work closely with our Project Management and Land Management teams, helping EMEC make the most of its combined expertise and ensuring Ecology plays a strong role in our major projects and integrated delivery.

What you'll be doing

• Lead the Ecology department and take overall responsibility for its performance, quality, capacity and development.
• Line manage and develop our Senior Ecologists, supporting them to lead people and areas of technical expertise within the wider team.
• Lead the professional development of the Ecology team, ensuring people have clear development plans and access to training and experience, while building the skills and capability EMEC needs for the future.
• Set clear priorities and expectations for the team and create an environment in which people can perform well and develop professionally.
• Plan Ecology resources and capability against current workload, pipeline, seasonality and future business needs.
• Monitor and report on the performance of the department through appropriate operational, commercial and people KPIs.
• Maintain overall responsibility for the technical quality of EMEC's ecological work, supported by Senior Ecologists and technical specialists.
• Set and maintain high standards, ensuring the right technical, quality and delivery processes are in place and drive continuous improvement.
• Provide senior technical advice and judgement on complex, unusual or higher-risk work.
• Oversee the delivery and commercial performance of the Ecology portfolio and intervene where projects, resources or client delivery are off track.
• Work closely with Project Management and Land Management colleagues on major projects, tenders and integrated delivery.
• Support the development and maintenance of key client relationships and contribute senior ecological input to significant tenders and opportunities.
• Identify future skills, service and market requirements and develop the team's capability accordingly.
• Contribute actively as a member of the Senior Management Team to EMEC's strategy, business planning, organisational performance and decision-making.
• Take ownership of agreed strategic priorities and organisational improvements and ensure they are translated into delivery.
• Maintain appropriate professional, legal, quality, health and safety and environmental standards across the Ecology function.

What we're looking for

We are looking for an experienced ecological consultant who is ready to lead a department, inspire a team as well as provide senior technical expertise.

You will bring:

• Substantial experience in ecological consultancy and a strong breadth of ecological knowledge.
• Experience leading and developing ecologists and creating effective, high-performing teams.
• Strong technical judgement and experience reviewing and assuring complex ecological work.
• Experience managing a portfolio of projects, resources and competing priorities.
• Good commercial awareness, including project performance, budgets, forecasting and resource utilisation.
• Experience working with clients and contributing to significant tenders and new opportunities.
• Strong knowledge of relevant wildlife legislation, planning policy, BNG and professional ecological practice.
• Experience reviewing and developing service lines, pricing, forecasting and budget control.
• The ability to use operational and financial information to understand performance and make decisions.
• Strong communication, judgement and influencing skills and the ability to work effectively with other senior leaders.
• A relevant degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Full membership of CIEEM.

We expect you to bring significant technical credibility, but we do not expect one person to be EMEC's leading specialist in every ecological discipline or to personally hold every protected-species licence. We are particularly interested in someone who knows how to build and use expertise across a team, maintain high standards while thinking strategically and develop capability for the future.

Experience in business development along with protected-species licences, Chartered Ecologist or Chartered Environmentalist status, and recognised expertise in one or more ecological specialisms would be advantageous.

Let’s be honest, not all ecological consultancies are the same. At EMEC. we want to do the very best for nature and ALL of our profits are gift-aided to the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust to support conservation directly on the ground.

We also want to do the best for you. Our benefits include:

• Flexible working options
• Personalised development programme
• A multi-disciplinary business

Additional information

Due to the nature of our work, occasional evening and weekend working may be required. EMEC operates flexible working arrangements, including a system of TOIL and paid overtime where applicable.

Regular travel to project sites is required, including locations not accessible by public transport, so a driving licence is essential.

This post is subject to a Basic DBS Check.

Interviews will be held in week commencing 26 th October and 2 nd November

Making your application

Adjustments - If you require any adjustments to make our recruitment process more accessible, please let us know by contacting the HR team at [e-mail]

Employment checks - We are committed to safeguarding our employees; safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk; and mitigating the risk to our business of financial and/or data fraud. Applicants must be willing to undergo pre-employment checks with past employers; Disclosure and Barring Service checks at the eligible level; right to work checks and driving licence checks (where applicable).

Please do not use artificial intelligence tools to assist you to complete the application form. We may not accept applications that have been completed utilising AI tools. If you would usually use tools such as these to assist you in filling in a form, please contact [e-mail] to discuss this further and understand other options.

Equal Opportunity - Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Group is an equal opportunities employer that strives to be a diverse and inclusive environment in which everyone is valued. We welcome applications from eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

Werecognisethat our workforce needs torepresentthe communities and people we work with. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups within Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, the wider charity and conservation sectors, such as people from Black and EthnicMinority backgrounds and those who identify as LGBTQ+.

Disability - If you have any support requirements to make your application, please notify us at the earliest opportunity via [e-mail] so that appropriate reasonable adjustments can be made to our recruitment process.

We are a Disability Confident employer. Applicants with a disability will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria for the position.

Employment checks - We are committed to safeguarding our employees; safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk; and mitigating the risk to our business of financial and/or data fraud. Applicants must be willing to undergo pre-employment checks with past employers; Disclosure and Barring Service checks at the eligible level; right to work checks and driving licence checks (where applicable).

Employment of ex-offenders - This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and successfulapplicants will be asked to declare any unspent criminal convictions.