Senior Ecologist

Penguin Recruitment; Lewes; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An environmental consultancy in Brighton is seeking a skilled Senior Ecologist to lead ecological surveys and mentor junior staff. The ideal candidate will have a degree in ecology, experience in ecological consultancy, and chartered membership of CIEEM. The position offers competitive compensation and flexible working arrangements along with a supportive workplace that values professional growth.

Benefits

Dedicated personal development budget

CIEEM membership support

Contributory pension

Private medical insurance

31 days annual leave plus birthday off

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Proven experience in ecological consultancy and project delivery.
• Natural England survey licences for at least one species/group.
• Flexibility to travel to sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver ecological surveys, assessments, and reports.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.
• Provide technical guidance and support to junior ecologists.

Skills

Ecological consultancy experience

Technical report writing

Project management

Field skills

GIS Software proficiency

Strong communication

Education

Degree-level qualification in ecology or related discipline

Chartered membership of CIEEM

MSc or PhD highly desirable

Tools

ArcGIS

Job description

Overview

Senior Ecologist

Location: Brighton (flexible working arrangements available)

Salary: £30,000+ DOE

A dynamic and expanding environmental consultancy is seeking a skilled Senior Ecologist to join its growing team. Recognised for delivering high-quality ecological advice across residential, commercial, education, renewable energy, and transport infrastructure projects, the consultancy offers an exciting opportunity for an experienced ecologist to lead diverse projects while mentoring junior staff.

Benefits

• Dedicated personal development budget and support for CIEEM membership
• Opportunity to develop leadership and business development skills
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Contributory pension and private medical insurance
• 31 days annual leave plus your birthday off
• Flexible working arrangements
• A supportive and inclusive workplace that values wellbeing, collaboration and professional growth

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver ecological surveys, assessments, and reports, including Phase 1 habitat surveys, protected species surveys, and mitigation/enhancement plans
• Provide day-to-day client liaison and ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget
• Contribute to Ecological Impact Assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessments, and EPSM licence applications
• Provide technical guidance and support to junior ecologists
• Support business development, including bid preparation and client engagement

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

• Degree-level qualification in ecology or a related discipline; MSc or PhD highly desirable
• Chartered membership of CIEEM or equivalent professional institute
• Proven experience in ecological consultancy, including technical report writing and project delivery
• Natural England survey licences for at least one species/group
• Strong field skills, project management experience, and excellent communication abilities
• Experience with GIS software (particularly ArcGIS) and collaborative work across environmental disciplines
• A UK driving licence and flexibility to travel to sites

This role provides an excellent opportunity for an ambitious ecologist to further their career within a supportive, collaborative, and forward-thinking consultancy, contributing to projects that make a real difference to biodiversity and habitat conservation