Senior Ecologist

CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Unlimited professional development

Job summary

Davidson-Watts Ecology Ltd is hiring a Senior Ecologist to lead complex ecological assessments, manage projects and budgets, and coordinate licensing for protected species. The role blends technical delivery with client liaison and hands-on fieldwork, including mentoring junior colleagues.

The successful candidate will have 5+ years in ecological consultancy, bat survey expertise, and eligibility for CIEEM accreditation, with willingness to travel and occasional night work.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ professional experience in ecological consultancy.
• Proven track record of technical delivery, project management and client liaison.
• Strong expertise in bats, including trapping and radio-tracking, and preparing licence method statements.
• Experience acting as (or working towards) an accredited agent or named ecologist on mitigation licences.
• Strong background in habitat and species surveys (e.g. dormice, birds, reptiles/amphibians).
• Excellent ecological report writing skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience of project and budget management.
• Full membership (or eligibility) of CIEEM.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full range of ecological assessments from PEA/PRA to EcIA, ES chapters and BNG calculations.
• Design and coordinate species-specific surveys (e.g. dormice, birds, reptiles, amphibians).
• Design and lead habitat surveys.
• Undertake all bat survey types, including trapping and radio-tracking.
• Prepare bat licences and other protected species licence method statements and site registration documents.
• Oversee implementation and monitoring of mitigation licences, acting as accredited agent or named ecologist as required.
• Schedule, manage and coordinate specialist sub-contractors.
• Manage allocated projects, including budgets, quotes and client liaison.
• Participate in non-technical team activities, H&S audits and policy input.

Skills

Project management

Client liaison

Bat surveys (trapping & radio-tracking

Licence method statements

Habitat and species surveys

Technical report writing

Budget management

CIEEM membership/eligibility

Education

CIEEM membership or eligibility

Job description

About Davidson-Watts Ecology Ltd

Davidson-Watts Ecology Ltd (DWE) is a specialist ecological consultancy with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality ecological advice, surveys, and solutions. We work with a wide range of clients including developers, conservation NGOs, local authorities/statutory agencies, and private landowners. We are leaders in the use of novel approaches to survey, assessment and mitigation, underpinned by our own in-house research and development programme. Our ethos is to combine scientific rigour with practical, client focussed outcomes, to promote sustainable development and nature recovery.

Role Purpose

The Senior Ecologist will play a key technical delivery role within our consultancy, leading complex ecological assessments and taking on protected species licensing responsibility, while managing allocated projects and budgets and coordinating specialist sub-contractors. The postholder will provide strong technical expertise in ecology, act as named ecologist or accredited agent on mitigation licences and ensure compliance with UK legislation and best practice. The role combines technical leadership, project management, and client liaison, alongside continued involvement in fieldwork and hands‑on site delivery, with opportunities to mentor junior colleagues and contribute to company policy and strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the full range of ecological assessments,from Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA) and Preliminary Roost Assessments (PRA) through to Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Environmental Statement (ES) chapters, and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) calculations.
• Design and coordinate species-specific surveys,g. dormice, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
• Design and lead habitat surveys.
• Undertake all bat survey types,including trapping and radio-tracking.
• Prepare bat licence and other protected species licence method statements and site registration documents.
• Oversee the implementation and monitoring of mitigation licences,acting as accredited agent or named ecologist as required.
• Schedule, manage and coordinate specialist sub-contractors.
• Manage allocated projects,including budgets, quotes, and client liaison.
• Participate in non‑technical team activities,such as team meetings, Health and Safety audits, and input to company policy and strategy.

Essential Criteria

• Minimum of 5 years’ professional experience in ecological consultancy.
• Proven track record oftechnical delivery, project management, and client liaison.
• Strong expertise in bats, including trapping and radio-tracking, and preparing licence method statements.
• Experience acting as (or working towards) an accredited agent or named ecologist on mitigation licences.
• Strong background in habitat and species surveys (e.g. dormice, birds, reptiles/amphibians).
• Excellent ecological report writing skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience of project and budget management.
• Full membership (or eligibility) of CIEEM.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel for site work, including night work.

Desirable Criteria

• Own protected species mitigation licence (e.g. bat) or well progressed towards one.
• Experience mentoring or providing technical guidance to junior ecologists.
• Experience in Biodiversity Net Gain assessments and UKHab classification.
• Understanding of the planning process and experience working with planning authorities.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary dependent on experience.
• Annual performance bonus and special bonus awards
• Hybrid working with flexibility to balance office, home, and site‑based work.
• Unlimited ongoing professional development and training.
• Opportunities to work on diverse and high‑profile projects, including work in New Zealand and the Pacific.
• A supportive, collaborative, and friendly working environment within a growing consultancy.