Senior Ecologist

Allen & York Ltd; Crawley; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Allen & York Ltd in Crawley is seeking a Senior Ecologist to lead projects, build client relationships and mentor junior staff. The role covers diverse ecological work across the UK, with opportunities to contribute to tenders and business development.

You will conduct terrestrial ecology surveys, prepare PEARs and EcIAs, and support Biodiversity Net Gain assessments, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality reporting.

Qualifications

• At least three years’ relevant professional experience in ecological consultancy or a closely related field.
• A relevant degree or postgraduate qualification.
• Strong botanical and faunal identification skills.
• Experience undertaking habitat and protected species surveys, mitigation and licensing.
• A good understanding of UK wildlife legislation and policy.
• Strong technical report-writing skills, including experience with PEARs, EcIAs and protected species reports.
• Experience managing projects and liaising directly with clients.
• Excellent organisation, communication and teamwork skills.
• Full or Associate Membership of CIEEM, or eligibility to obtain membership.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel nationally, including occasional overnight stays.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead terrestrial ecology surveys, including UK Habitat Classification, Phase 1 habitat and protected species surveys.
• Undertake fieldwork, including surveys for bats, badgers, dormice, great crested newts, reptiles, otters, water voles and nesting birds.
• Prepare high-quality technical reports, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAR), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Environmental Statement chapters and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments.
• Manage ecological projects, ensuring delivery to agreed deadlines and client expectations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to tenders and new project opportunities.
• Review technical work and provide guidance and mentoring to junior ecologists.
• Provide specialist ecological advice and support mitigation and licensing requirements.

Skills

Ecology

Field surveys

Report writing

Project management

Client liaison

Wildlife legislation

CIEEM membership

Driving licence

Teamwork

Travel willingness

Education

Relevant degree or postgraduate qualification

Tools

QGIS

Job description

Senior Ecologist

Location: Crawley, West Sussex
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Are you an experienced ecologist looking for your next step in consultancy, with the opportunity to lead projects, develop client relationships and mentor junior colleagues?

I'm working with a growing environmental consultancy looking to appoint a Senior Ecologist to join its established team in Crawley. With a diverse portfolio of projects across the UK and continued business growth, this is an excellent opportunity to take ownership of varied ecological projects while developing your technical and project management skills.

The opportunity

You’ll work across a broad range of sectors, including residential development, retail, commercial and renewable energy, delivering high-quality ecological advice and supporting projects from initial surveys through to reporting and mitigation.

The role offers a combination of fieldwork, technical reporting, project management and client liaison, with the opportunity to contribute to tenders, support business development and mentor more junior team members.

You’ll also have access to wider expertise across related environmental disciplines, providing scope to broaden your experience and work on varied projects.

Key responsibilities

• Design and lead terrestrial ecology surveys, including UK Habitat Classification, Phase 1 habitat and protected species surveys.

• Undertake fieldwork, including surveys for bats, badgers, dormice, great crested newts, reptiles, otters, water voles and nesting birds.

• Prepare high-quality technical reports, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAR), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Environmental Statement chapters and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments.

• Manage ecological projects, ensuring delivery to agreed deadlines and client expectations.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and other stakeholders.

• Contribute to tenders and new project opportunities.

• Review technical work and provide guidance and mentoring to junior ecologists.

• Provide specialist ecological advice and support mitigation and licensing requirements.

What we’re looking for

• At least three years’ relevant professional experience in ecological consultancy or a closely related field.

• A relevant degree or postgraduate qualification.

• Strong botanical and faunal identification skills.

• Experience undertaking habitat and protected species surveys, mitigation and licensing.

• A good understanding of UK wildlife legislation and policy.

• Strong technical report-writing skills, including experience with PEARs, EcIAs and protected species reports.

• Experience managing projects and liaising directly with clients.

• Excellent organisation, communication and teamwork skills.

• Full or Associate Membership of CIEEM, or eligibility to obtain membership.

• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel nationally, including occasional overnight stays.

Desirable experience includes protected species survey licences, National Vegetation Classification (NVC), Modular River Surveys (MoRPh), GIS software such as QGIS, development licence applications and experience mentoring junior staff.

What’s on offer?

• Competitive salary and benefits package.

• A varied portfolio of interesting projects across multiple sectors.

• Supportive colleagues and an established technical team.

• Opportunities for professional development and progression.

• A potential pathway towards Principal Ecologist, depending on experience and development, typically over the next three to five years.

About us

Allen & York have been matching purposeful people with purpose‑led organisations for 30 years. We partner with our clients and candidates on roles that build an understanding of climate change, promote sustainability and create inclusive and responsible organisations, working towards a sustainable world for us all.

Committed to inclusiveness in the workplace, we aim to increase diversity across all areas and therefore welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, or whether or not they have a disability.

Let us help build a better world, together.