Senior Ecologist

Kier Group; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Diversity and inclusion

Disability Confident employer

Job summary

Kier Group in Cambridge is seeking a Senior Ecologist to lead ecological delivery on a landmark infrastructure project. You will provide expert ecological advice from design through construction on a nationally significant DCO scheme, influencing decisions and ensuring commitments are delivered on site.

The role requires regular office presence in Cambridge with some hybrid flexibility, a 42-hour week, and a strong focus on on-site coordination, compliance and mentoring junior ecologists.

Qualifications

• Degree in Ecology or related environmental discipline; CIEEM member.
• Proven experience as Senior Ecologist or Ecological Clerk of Works on site.
• Hands-on experience with protected species surveys, mitigation delivery and licences.
• Ability to review construction documentation and advise on practical ecological controls.
• Confidently communicate ecological requirements to contractors and project teams.
• Site-based, proactive and commercially aware in solving ecological challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead on-site ecological activities and coordinate ecology resources.
• Identify ecological risks early and provide practical compliance solutions.
• Monitor contractor activities against environmental management plans and licences.
• Undertake site inspections, environmental audits and maintain compliance records.
• Mentor ecologists on site and deliver toolbox talks and environmental training.

Skills

Senior Ecologist

Ecology degree

CIEEM member

Protected species surveys

Mitigation delivery

Site coordination

Contractor communication

Education

Degree in Ecology

Job description

We're looking for a Senior Ecologist to join our team in Cambridge. Could this be your next career move?

This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role on a nationally significant infrastructure project, helping to shape ecological outcomes from design through to construction. Working on a high-profile DCO scheme, you'll provide expert ecological advice, influence project decisions, and ensure environmental commitments are delivered effectively on site.

Location: Cambridge - regular office presence required, with some flexibility for hybrid workingHours: Permanent, full-time (42 hours per week). Condensed hours and flexible working arrangements can be considered - just let us know what works for youWe are unable to offer certificates of sponsorship for this role

This is an opportunity to work on a landmark infrastructure project where your expertise will directly influence environmental outcomes. You'll be part of a collaborative team of specialists, tackling complex ecological challenges while helping to create a lasting positive legacy for nature and local communities.

What will you be responsible for?

As a Senior Ecologist, you'll play a key role in delivering ecological compliance and mitigation across the project. Acting as Lead Ecological Clerk of Works, you'll coordinate on-site ecological activities, advise construction teams and ensure works are delivered responsibly while balancing programme requirements.

Your day-to-day will include:

• Leading ecological activities on site, coordinating ecology resource and acting as the primary point of contact for ecological matters
• Identifying ecological risks and constraints early, providing practical solutions that support delivery while maintaining compliance
• Monitoring contractor activities to ensure adherence with environmental management plans, planning conditions, SSSI consents and protected species licence requirements
• Undertaking site inspections, environmental audits, pre-construction ecological checks and maintaining clear compliance records
• Supporting and mentoring ecologists on site while delivering toolbox talks and environmental awareness training to project teams

What are we looking for?

This role of Senior Ecologist is perfect for someone who:

• Holds a degree in Ecology or a related environmental discipline and is a member of CIEEM (or an equivalent professional body)
• Brings proven experience in a Senior Ecologist or Ecological Clerk of Works role, supporting construction delivery and managing ecological compliance on site
• Has hands-on experience with protected species surveys, mitigation delivery, licence requirements and environmentally sensitive areas
• Can review construction documentation and advise on practical ecological controls before works begin
• Can confidently communicate ecological requirements to contractors, project teams and stakeholders at all levels
• Thrives in a site-based environment, taking ownership of decisions and finding practical, commercially aware solutions to ecological challenges

Rewards and benefits

We're proud to be able to offer our brilliant people a wide variety of benefits that you can tailor to your needs. You can see more information of benefits here.

Diversity and inclusion

Making Kier a diverse and inclusive place to work is a huge priority for us. We're proud of the steps we've taken so far, but we know we must always do more. Our employees are key in shaping Kier's diversity and inclusion initiatives and our people have made a huge impact on how we work, by using their experiences to shape our policies. You can see our D&I action plan here. As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Senior Ecologist

Company: Kier Group Salary: Not specified Hours: Full-time Location: PE19 6YH Job type: Permanent Posting date: 3 Nov 2026 Closing date: 24 Nov 2026

Summary

We're looking for a Senior Ecologist to join our team in Cambridge. Could this be your next career move?

This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role on a nationally significant infrastructure project, helping to shape ecological outcomes from design through to construction. Working on a high-profile DCO scheme, you'll provide expert ecological advice, influence project decisions, and ensure environmental commitments are delivered effectively on site.

Location: Cambridge - regular office presence required, with some flexibility for hybrid workingHours: Permanent, full-time (42 hours per week). Condensed hours and flexible working arrangements can be considered - just let us know what works for youWe are unable to offer certificates of sponsorship for this role

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to work on a landmark infrastructure project where your expertise will directly influence environmental outcomes. You'll be part of a collaborative team of specialists, tackling complex ecological challenges while helping to create a lasting positive legacy for nature and local communities.

What will you be responsible for?

As a Senior Ecologist, you'll play a key role in delivering ecological compliance and mitigation across the project. Acting as Lead Ecological Clerk of Works, you'll coordinate on-site ecological activities, advise construction teams and ensure works are delivered responsibly while balancing programme requirements.

Your day-to-day will include:

• Leading ecological activities on site, coordinating ecology resource and acting as the primary point of contact for ecological matters
• Identifying ecological risks and constraints early, providing practical solutions that support delivery while maintaining compliance
• Monitoring contractor activities to ensure adherence with environmental management plans, planning conditions, SSSI consents and protected species licence requirements
• Undertaking site inspections, environmental audits, pre-construction ecological checks and maintaining clear compliance records
• Supporting and mentoring ecologists on site while delivering toolbox talks and environmental awareness training to project teams

What are we looking for?

This role of Senior Ecologist is perfect for someone who:

• Holds a degree in Ecology or a related environmental discipline and is a member of CIEEM (or an equivalent professional body)
• Brings proven experience in a Senior Ecologist or Ecological Clerk of Works role, supporting construction delivery and managing ecological compliance on site
• Has hands-on experience with protected species surveys, mitigation delivery, licence requirements and environmentally sensitive areas
• Can review construction documentation and advise on practical ecological controls before works begin
• Can confidently communicate ecological requirements to contractors, project teams and stakeholders at all levels
• Thrives in a site-based environment, taking ownership of decisions and finding practical, commercially aware solutions to ecological challenges

Rewards and benefits

We're proud to be able to offer our brilliant people a wide variety of benefits that you can tailor to your needs. You can see more information of benefits here.

Diversity and inclusion

Making Kier a diverse and inclusive place to work is a huge priority for us. We're proud of the steps we've taken so far, but we know we must always do more. Our employees are key in shaping Kier's diversity and inclusion initiatives and our people have made a huge impact on how we work, by using their experiences to shape our policies. You can see our D&I action plan here. As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

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Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

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