Senior Ecologist

Tetra Tech; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Tetra Tech is seeking a Senior Ecologist to join our Planning & Environmental team in Belfast. The role involves designing and undertaking ecological surveys, interpreting data, and producing clear reports to support planning applications and licensing across the UK and Ireland.

You will lead site surveys, coordinate with clients and regulators, and help shape sustainable design solutions while mentoring junior staff in a multidisciplinary environment.

Qualifications

• You will hold a degree in an ecological or environmental discipline and be a member of CIEEM.
• Significant previous experience in an ecological consultancy role is required.
• Full current driving licence and access to transport for travel to survey sites across the UK and Ireland.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality ecological input across a wide portfolio of projects.
• Lead ecological surveys, interpret data and produce robust, well-structured reports for planning and licensing.
• Liaise with clients, regulators and project teams to integrate ecological considerations from the outset.
• Support multidisciplinary teams and contribute to business development.

Skills

Communication

Report writing

Time management

Project coordination

Teamwork

Education

Degree in ecological or environmental discipline

Member of CIEEM (or equivalent)

Tools

GIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Senior Ecologist

Shape Environmental Outcomes Across the UK and Ireland

Tetra Tech is seeking to appoint a Senior Ecologist to join our Planning & Environmental team. Based in our Belfast office, this role offers the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of ecological, environmental and planning projects across the UK and Ireland.

The position is based in a large, permanently desked office located on the edge of the city with on site parking, strong public transport connections and easy access to major road networks. The role supports hybrid working, with an expectation of two to three days per week in the office to facilitate mentoring, collaboration and team coordination. Flexible working arrangements can be accommodated where project responsibilities allow. The multi disciplinary environment provides exposure to a wide range of significant projects, including marine, coastal, regeneration and renewable related developments.

Purpose & Scope of the Role

As a Senior Ecologist, you will be responsible for delivering high‑quality ecological input across a wide portfolio of projects. You will take a lead role in designing and undertaking ecological surveys, interpreting data, assessing habitats and species, and producing clear, robust and well‑structured reports to support planning applications, marine licensing processes and related environmental approvals. You will liaise with clients, regulators, colleagues and wider project teams to ensure that ecological considerations are integrated into planning, design and construction from the outset.

You will support the coordination of multidisciplinary project teams, contribute to feasibility assessments, undertake research and analysis, and represent Tetra Tech in community or stakeholder consultations where required. Your work will combine office‑based report writing with site‑based survey activity throughout the UK and Ireland, offering a varied and engaging workload across different landscapes and development types. You will also contribute to business development, supporting senior leaders in maintaining client relationships and identifying opportunities that strengthen our ecological service offering.

Your Impact in this Position

Your work will directly influence the environmental quality and ecological integrity of development projects across the region. By bringing technical insight, sound judgement and attention to detail, you will help clients understand the ecological implications of their proposals and support them in achieving regulatory compliance while enhancing biodiversity outcomes. You will play an important role in shaping sustainable design approaches, identifying mitigation measures and supporting the delivery of nature‑positive solutions that contribute to environmental resilience.

As you progress in the role, you will further develop your sector expertise, contribute to technical leadership within the ecology team and support the continual improvement of our methodologies, reporting standards and client service. Your contribution will be reflected in the clarity of your advice, the confidence you inspire in clients and the added value you bring to complex environmental and planning projects.

Your Toolkit for Success at Tetra Tech

Ecological Expertise & Technical Capability

• You will bring strong technical experience in Phase 1 habitat assessments, protected species surveys and ecological appraisal, supported by a solid understanding of the ecological characteristics of the UK and Ireland. Your experience in undertaking bat surveys, mammal surveys and wider ecological fieldwork will inform your ability to interpret environmental constraints, analyse data and produce clear, evidence‑based recommendations. You will be confident reviewing construction and design plans, understanding how proposals manifest on the ground and identifying ecological opportunities and risks at each project stage. Your interest in ecology will be reflected in your commitment to high standards, scientific accuracy and environmental stewardship.

Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• You will be an effective communicator who can liaise confidently with clients, colleagues, regulators, stakeholders and community representatives. You will be able to explain ecological issues to both technical and non‑technical audiences, ensuring that findings, implications and recommendations are understood and acted upon. Your interpersonal skills, professional approach and collaborative mindset will help you develop strong relationships across the business, working closely with the wider Planning & Environmental team to deliver an integrated service to clients.

Project Delivery & Management

• You will demonstrate strong organisational capability, managing your own workload and contributing to the efficient coordination of project teams. You will be able to progress projects from concept through to completion, working under pressure where required while maintaining quality and consistency in your outputs. You will be competent in the use of GIS and Microsoft Office applications and capable of producing clear, concise and well‑structured reports that support planning and licensing submissions. Your ability to manage time effectively, deliver ecological solutions and meet project deadlines will underpin your success in the role.

Regulatory Awareness & Environmental Governance

• You will bring a strong understanding of UK and/or Irish environmental policy, ecological legislation and regulatory processes relevant to development and land use planning. Your knowledge of protected species legislation, habitat regulations and environmental assessment requirements will enable you to guide clients through complex approvals processes with clarity and confidence. You will be able to advise on ecological mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures, ensuring that proposals align with statutory obligations and good practice standards. Your understanding of the regulatory landscape will support proportionate, evidence‑based and defensible ecological recommendations.

Mandatory Requirements

You will hold a degree in an ecological or environmental discipline and be a member of CIEEM or an equivalent professional body. You will have significant previous experience in an ecological consultancy role, hold a full current driving licence and access to transport to enable travel to survey sites across the UK and Ireland. You will demonstrate excellent communication, presentation and report writing skills, combined with the ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Work Patterns and Locations

The position is based in a large, permanently desked office located on the edge of the city with on site parking, strong public transport connections and easy access to major road networks. The role supports hybrid working, with an expectation of two to three days per week in the office to facilitate mentoring, collaboration and team coordination. Flexible working arrangements can be accommodated where project responsibilities allow. The multi disciplinary environment provides exposure to a wide range of significant projects, including marine, coastal, regeneration and renewable related developments.

Why join Tetra Tech?

Tetra Tech is a leading provider of consulting and engineering services working across the full project lifecycle worldwide. We have a wide range of expertise across our teams, providing a global support network with a personalised approach to client relationships to better understand where we can add value. We provide a collaborative environment that supports individual performance, innovation, and creativity.

We support public and private sector clients on local, national, and international projects to deliver sustainable and resilient solutions. Our operations in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands include more than 6,000 employees who are Leading with Science® to solve our clients’ most complex problems.

In alignment with the Equality Act 2010, we will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates and employees requiring additional arrangements. This could include adaptations to work schedules, training approaches, or the physical workspace. Please inform us if you need any accommodations during the recruitment processor in your day‑to‑day role.