Senior Ecologist

Aspect Ecology Ltd.; Crawley; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Mental health first aiders

Comprehensive income protection

Job summary

Aspect Ecology Ltd. is seeking a Senior Ecologist to join our Crawley team. The role combines hands-on fieldwork with desk-based consultancy, delivering high-quality reports and managing projects for clients across the South East.

You will lead surveys, liaise with clients, and support junior ecologists while developing specialist expertise and progressing toward Principal Ecologist as responsibilities grow.

Qualifications

• At least three years' relevant experience in ecological consultancy or a closely related field.
• Strong UK habitat and species identification skills.
• Experience undertaking protected species surveys with knowledge of UK wildlife legislation.

Responsibilities

• Lead habitat and protected species surveys and ecological assessments.

Skills

Fieldwork

Technical reporting

Project management

Client relationship management

Driving licence

Education

CIEEM membership or eligibility

Tools

QGIS

GIS software

Job description

Are you an experienced ecologist ready to take the next step in your consultancy career? Do you enjoy combining hands‑on fieldwork with technical reporting, project management and client relationships? Are you looking for a role where you can develop your specialist expertise, take greater ownership of projects and progress towards Principal Ecologist?

Aspect Ecology (part of the APEM Group) is looking for a Senior Ecologist to join our growing team based in Crawley. You'll be joining an experienced, friendly team of specialists working on a diverse range of projects across the South East and surrounding areas, including residential, commercial and renewable energy developments.

This is a varied role that combines fieldwork with desk‑based consultancy. You'll design and lead habitat and protected species surveys, undertake ecological assessments and produce high‑quality technical reports. You'll also manage your own projects, build relationships with clients and provide guidance and support to more junior ecologists. With projects of different sizes and complexities, you'll have the opportunity to broaden your experience and develop both your technical and consultancy skills.

We're looking for someone who enjoys taking responsibility, is confident in their ecological knowledge and wants to continue learning. You'll have the support of an established team, opportunities to develop your protected species expertise and a clear pathway towards Principal Ecologist as your experience and responsibilities grow.

To be successful in this role, you'll need:

• At least three years' relevant experience in ecological consultancy or a closely related field
• Strong UK habitat and species identification skills, including experience of Phase 1 or UK Habitat Classification surveys
• Experience undertaking protected species surveys, with a good understanding of UK wildlife legislation and mitigation
• The ability to produce clear, high‑quality ecological reports, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals and protected species assessments
• Experience managing projects and liaising with clients, with strong organisational and communication skills
• Full or Associate membership of CIEEM, or eligibility to obtain it
• A full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel to survey sites, including occasional overnight stays

Bonus points if you have:

• One or more protected species survey licences
• Experience of NVC, MoRPh surveys or GIS software such as QGIS
• Experience mentoring junior ecologists or preparing protected species development licence applications

At Aspect Ecology, you'll work alongside knowledgeable and supportive colleagues who are passionate about delivering excellent ecological consultancy. As part of the wider APEM Group, you'll also benefit from opportunities to collaborate with specialists across other environmental disciplines, work on projects that interest you and continue developing your career.

We offer a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, including private medical insurance, access to mental health first aiders and comprehensive income protection.

If you're looking for a role where you can build on your experience, take ownership of interesting projects and develop towards the next stage of your ecological career, we'd love to hear from you.

Next steps

We are focused on creating a diverse and inclusive team. If you can’t tick every box on our job description, then we are still keen to hear from you and are open to supporting your development. That may be working part time or supporting you to gain experience in a specific area – we are a growing company and are able to adapt roles to reflect individual skills.