Senior Ecologist

Arup; Belfast; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company seeks a senior ecologist for their Belfast office. This role involves diverse ecological assessments and client interactions within a multi-disciplinary climate and sustainability team. Candidates should have relevant academic qualifications, professional membership, and experience in ecological consultancy.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Flexible benefits

Profit sharing

Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in Ecology, Zoology, Geography or Biology.
• Membership of CIEEM or equivalent is ideal.
• Post qualification experience in ecological consultancy.

Responsibilities

• Preparation of ecological reports and assessments.
• Field survey work including habitat and species surveys.
• Managing projects and client interactions.

Skills

Ecological Impact Assessments

Biodiversity Net Gain

Data analysis

Client management

Surveying

Education

Bachelor's degree in Ecology, Zoology, Geography, or Biology

MSc in Ecological Consultancy

Tools

ArcGIS

Job description

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Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

Arup is an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, architects, consultants and technical specialists, working across every aspect of today’s-built environment.

Organizations and governments are becoming increasingly aware of the global nature crisis, their impact on it, and the need to move towards a nature-positive future. Our integrated nature solutions use nature’s own systems as a design guide, achieving healthier, more resilient environments that support and protect people and communities.

Watch this short clip to discover how Arup are shaping a better world and how you could be a part of it!

The Opportunity

We are currently looking to recruit a senior ecologist on a permanent contract into our Belfast office. You will work as part of a team of 35 ecologists within Arup’s northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland offices, within a wider multi-disciplinary Climate and Sustainability Services consulting team to deliver an effective and professional service to a wide range of clients. Projects can vary greatly in nature and duration, which helps to provide a hugely diverse and exciting workload.

These are varied roles, and your day-to-day responsibilities tasks could include the following:

• Preparation of clear and concise reports, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA), Species Survey Reports, Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Habitats Regulations Appraisals (HRA) and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Assessments.
• Knowledge of BNG and other metrics (e.g. Building with Nature), natural capital / environmental net gain studies, site and corporate biodiversity strategies, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standard 6, and nature-related policies would all be hugely beneficial due to the varied nature of the work being undertaken and emerging.
• Advising on restoration/enhancement of habitats, biodiversity design and integration of green infrastructure design and other nature-based solutions to secure biodiversity gain and strengthen climate change resilience measures.
• Confidently and proactively managing the ecological input of projects from bidding to delivery, including client meetings, project staff resourcing, project controls and budgets.
• Field survey work, such as Phase 1 Habitat/UKHab surveys (including condition scoring for BNG assessments and invasive species) and protected species surveys (e.g. bats, otter and badger).
• Data exploration of survey results, including managing the delivery of GIS outputs.
• An interest in mentoring more junior staff to help them develop their own careers.
• Knowledge in designing, carrying out ecological surveys and delivering EcIA and HRA
• Knowledge at selecting and managing sub-consultants and reviewing their performance.

Due to the nature of our work, you will have the opportunity to develop a broad range of skills throughout your employment. Opportunities for flexible working. A full driving licence is essential. This is a client facing role with dedicationto advising on best practice across all of our projects and keeping up to date with relevant ecological legislation and policy guidance.

Depending on your preference a position could be based in any the offices listed above and may entail travelling across Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland and the north of England as required, assisting teams in other offices as needed, depending on the location of your home office.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share, and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas.

You will have the opportunity do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

As such, we are looking for the following qualifications, skills, knowledge in you:

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in a relevant subject, such as Ecology, Zoology, Geography or Biology (or equivalent), and a postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline, such as an MSc in Ecological Consultancy, is advantageous. Knowledgewith protected species survey licence(s)
• Membership of CIEEM, or equivalent professional body and seeking to work towards Chartership.
• Post qualification knowledge, most of which will have been gained within a planning or environmental/ecological consultancy area.
• Knowledge of having worked in the consulting industry previously, with a broad range of ecological appreciation.
• Knowledge of having used ArcGIS software and using digital tools to deliver efficiency and innovation.

What we offer you:

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognizes the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We also provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefitsto help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Different People, Shared Values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity orexpression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment thatembraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Our Application Process

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