SENIOR ECOLOGICAL CONSULTANT

Wessex Ecology Ltd.; Aylesbury, Oxford, Bristol; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Profit-related bonus

Personal training budget

Use of company van

Paid professional membership

Paid work-related expenses

Job summary

Wessex Ecology Ltd. is seeking a Senior Ecologist based in Aylesbury, Oxford, or Bristol to lead ecological projects and mentor junior staff. The role combines fieldwork, report writing, and project management, providing a diverse workload in a passionate team focused on high-quality ecology and client service.

Benefits include a permanent contract, competitive salary, holiday entitlement, private medical insurance, and a personal training budget. Interested candidates should send their CV and a brief covering letter to [e-mail].

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ post-graduate consultancy experience.
• Full membership of CIEEM (MCIEEM).
• Confident with biodiversity net gain assessments.
• Holding or close to achieving a minimum of two protected species survey licences.
• Competence in GIS (QGIS).
• Strong report-writing and communication skills.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver Preliminary Ecological Appraisals and protected species surveys.
• Manage project budgets, timelines, and client relationships.
• Provide technical QA and sign-off on survey reports.
• Mentor and supervise junior team members.
• Contribute to tenders and fee proposals.

Skills

Post-graduate consultancy experience

Full membership of CIEEM (MCIEEM)

Biodiversity net gain assessments

GIS (QGIS)

Report-writing skills

Communication skills

UK driving licence

Protected species survey licences

Education

Environmental Science or related field

Job description

Full time | Aylesbury/Oxford/Bristol | £30,000–£40,000 depending on experience

About us

We are a growing ecological consultancy based in Tidworth, providing specialist advice and survey services to clients across southern England and Wales. Our work spans habitat assessments, protected species surveys, environmental impact assessments, tree surveys, landscape planning and biodiversity net gain calculations.

We’re a passionate, close‑knit team committed to delivering high‑quality ecology alongside outstanding client service.

The role

We're looking for a Senior Ecologist or experienced Ecologist ready to step up who is seeking a varied workload to join our independent ecological consultancy. You'll lead ecological projects from inception to completion, manage and mentor junior staff, and serve as a trusted point of contact for clients. This is a hands‑on role combining fieldwork, report writing, and project management.

Wessex Ecology is an independent ecological consultancy providing expert advice to developers, landowners, and public‑sector clients across southern England and Wales. Our client base includes householders, architects, house builders, water utilities, rural agents and government agencies.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and deliver Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, EcIA and EIA chapters, and protected species surveys
• Manage project budgets, timelines, and client relationships
• Provide technical QA and sign‑off on survey reports and mitigation strategies
• Mentor and supervise junior team members
• Maintain and develop client accounts
• Contribute to tenders and fee proposals

About You

• Minimum 5 years’ post‑graduate consultancy experience
• Full membership of CIEEM (MCIEEM)
• Confident with BNG assessments and biodiversity metric calculations
• Holding or close to achieving a minimum two protected species survey licences (e.g., great crested newt, bat, dormouse)
• Competence in GIS (QGIS)
• Strong report‑writing and communication skills
• Full UK driving licence
• Additional survey licences (e.g., rare reptile, barn owl, white‑claw crayfish)
• FISC level 4
• Track record of preparing project mitigation licences
• Track record of business development or client acquisition

What we offer

• Contract: Permanent
• Office location: Aylesbury/Oxford/Bristol
• Hours: 40/week (between May & September these hours worked Monday to Thursday)
• Holiday entitlement: 224 statutory holiday hours/year (equivalent to 28 eight hour days). This includes public holidays. In addition to statutory holidays we offer a further 40 hours/year (equivalent to 5 eight hour days).
• One professional membership paid
• All work‑related expenses paid
• After 12 months you will receive a profit related bonus
• Personal training budget of £1000/year
• Use of company van for work
• Private medical insurance

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a short covering letter (no more than one page) explaining why you’re a great fit for this role to [e-mail] .

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.