Principal | Senior Associate | Team Lead Aquatic Ecologist

Stantec; Shrewsbury; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental consultancy in the UK is seeking a Principal Aquatic Ecologist to shape and deliver aquatic ecology elements in major water sector projects. The ideal candidate will possess a broad understanding of aquatic ecology and oversee surveys and impact assessments. This role emphasizes collaboration and mentorship within a multidisciplinary team, fostering client relationships and contributing to business development efforts.

Qualifications

• Broad understanding of aquatic ecology.
• Experience with surveys for macroinvertebrates, fish, and aquatic plants.
• Proven ability in regulatory compliance work.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver aquatic ecology elements across major projects.
• Lead surveys and impact assessments.
• Mentor junior colleagues and foster knowledge sharing.

Skills

Aquatic ecology survey techniques

Environmental impact assessment

Client management

Mentorship

Collaboration

Education

Degree in Ecology or related field

Job description

Overview

Stantec's Ecology Team partners with clients to deliver innovative, sustainable, and efficient solutions using contemporary approaches to solve complex environmental challenges. We are seeking a Principal Aquatic Ecologist with a broad understanding of aquatic ecology to join our nationwide team. As we continue to expand our impact in environmental and regulatory services, our ideal candidate will demonstrate versatility across a wide variety of project deliverables, including both development impacts and water resources projects. We value both general expertise and individual specialisms, actively encouraging your unique interests while prioritising a wide-ranging skill set.

We're looking for a highly skilled and passionate Aquatic Ecologist to take a leading role in our team. You'll be instrumental in shaping and delivering aquatic ecology elements across major projects primarily within the water sector, while also supporting our work in energy, infrastructure, and development.

You'll provide broad technical input, leading and contributing to the full spectrum of aquatic ecology survey and impact assessment activities. This includes diverse project types such as drought planning, water resource management, and environmental restoration. You'll oversee the design and execution of surveys for macroinvertebrates, fish, macrophytes, and invasive species, and provide crucial technical input into environmental impact assessments and Water Framework Directive (WFD) compliance work.

You'll gain broad project exposure, engaging in everything from land development impacts to water abstraction, pollution investigations, and resource management, ensuring ecological needs are balanced with industry objectives. While a wide skill set is preferred, we highly value and will nurture individuals with a particular specialism, such as fish ecology, aquatic plants, or hydro-ecology, as part of our comprehensive consultancy offering. This role involves significant collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, mentoring junior colleagues, and fostering knowledge sharing. You'll build strong relationships with clients, regulators, and stakeholders, contributing to business development, proposals, and client management.