Principal HRA Specialist

AECOM; Croydon; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering firm is seeking a Principal Ecologist to join their Nature team in the UK. This role involves delivering high-quality Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) consultancy, leading projects, and developing innovative solutions for complex environmental issues. Ideal candidates should have experience in HRA work, project management skills, and a driving license. The position offers flexible hybrid working, competitive benefits, and the chance to contribute to diverse ecological projects.

Benefits

Flexible hybrid working model

Career development opportunities

Technical practice networks

Volunteering days

Qualifications

• Experience in leading and managing HRA work, as demonstrated by suitable professional experience.
• Experience in work-winning, managing projects, project budgets, and leading stakeholder discussions.
• Experience in reviewing technical work and supporting wider team members.

Responsibilities

• Support development of pragmatic solutions to complex HRA issues.
• Lead delivery of high-quality HRA consultancy and advisory services.
• Produce HRA reports for Local Plans and Development Consent Orders across the UK.

Skills

Leading and managing HRA work

Managing projects and budgets

Stakeholder discussions

Technical review

Driving license

Education

Membership of a professional institution (CIEEM or related)

Job description

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we’re delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We’re one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

Are you ready to join a team of talented ecologist’s and shape the future of the environment?

Join our dynamic Nature team as a Principal Ecologist (or Principal HRA specialist) in our Basingstoke, Birmingham, Croydon, Cambridge, Nottingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Belfast, Birmingham, or Bristol offices (though other locations may be considered), and benefit through our flexible hybrid working model. At AECOM, we’re at the forefront of innovation, delivering an exceptional portfolio of Ecology programs and projects through long‑term partnerships with key clients. In particular, AECOM has a large and growing business within the field of Habitats Regulations Assessment.

Projects

• Major infrastructure projects for the water industry
• Renewable energy such as solar farms (including several of the largest solar farms to have gained consent in the UK), coastal defences, electricity transmission network reinforcement, and recreational infrastructure
• HRAs for many local authority Local Plans, Minerals and Waste Plans, and Local Transport Plans

Responsibilities

• Support development of technically robust and pragmatic solutions to complex HRA issues
• Lead and support delivery of high-quality HRA consultancy and advisory services to both internal and external clients, including through our check and review processes
• Lead and support production of HRA reports for Local Plans and Development Consent Orders, across the UK and Republic of Ireland and potentially elsewhere in Europe (note this is a predominantly desk‑based role but some travel opportunities are available)
• Lead on (or develop your knowledge with a view to leading on) interpretation of noise, water quality, and air quality data within an HRA context
• Author or technically check project deliverables to ensure high quality outputs
• Deliver, or assist in delivering, expert witness services on Local Plan HRAs and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project Examinations
• Lead and support the preparation of high quality and commercially astute bids and tenders for HRA services, notably in the energy, defence, local authority strategic planning, and water sectors; and
• Oversee plan, schedule and organise all phases of HRA project work, ensuring necessary resources, budgets and controls are in place to meet both programme and budget requirements. This will include direct client contact

Come grow with us.

If you’re passionate about innovation and turning bold ideas into reality, AECOM welcomes you. This role presents a great opportunity to utilise and enhance your HRA skills, to improve your advocacy and expert witness skills (or to develop them if you have no existing experience of expert witness) and to develop your familiarity of the intersection between HRA, ecology and other disciplines such as recreational studies, air quality assessments and noise modelling. Although the work will be principally focussed on HRA, opportunities will exist to undertake, and develop skills in, other work areas including ecological survey and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Become part of our dynamic Nature business, which boasts around 230 professional experts including national and global leaders located across the UK&I, from species licence holders to experts in impact assessment, habitat creation, ecosystem restoration, enhancement and management. At AECOM, you’ll thrive in an inclusive and forward‑thinking environment where your contributions are valued.

And let’s not forget about the perks at AECOM. You’ll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well‑being, customised to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work‑life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

Qualifications

• Experience of leading and managing HRA work, as demonstrated by suitable professional experience
• Experience in work‑winning, managing projects, project budgets and leading stakeholder discussions
• Experience of reviewing technical work and supporting wider team members
• Membership of an appropriate professional institution and evidence of working towards Chartership (such as CIEEM or related)
• A full driving licence and willingness to visit other locations or client premises on company business

Please note that while experienced ecologists who also have HRA expertise are very welcome to apply, AECOM is also willing to consider experienced environmental professionals in other disciplines who have considerable HRA knowledge and experience.

If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you!

Additional Information

Interested in the role or curious about life at AECOM? Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects, and much more!

For further information about the role, reach out to the recruiter on LinkedIn (Melissa Moody).

About AECOM

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well‑being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry‑leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.