Senior Ecologist

Slr Consulting Limited; Stoke-on-Trent; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global environmental consultancy is seeking an experienced Ecologist for their Stoke-on-Trent office. The role involves managing ecological projects, producing assessments, mentoring juniors, and ensuring quality in survey execution. Candidates should possess a strong background in ecology with at least 4 years of experience and hold relevant qualifications. This position offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, encouraging a work-life balance through hybrid working options.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Flexible working hours

Company pension

Excellent healthcare

Travel and life insurance

Annual leave and flexible bank holidays

Qualifications

• At least 4 years of experience in ecological project management.
• Experience in producing ecological assessments and reports.
• Full UK driving licence and access to own car essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage ecological projects and resource allocation.
• Produce ecological appraisals and related documents.
• Mentor junior team members.

Skills

Project management

Ecological surveys

Technical report writing

Client communication

Mentoring

Education

Academic qualifications in ecology or related discipline

Qualifying Member status of CIEEM

Tools

Referencing ecological legislation

Ecological assessment tools

Job description

Project work will be varied, and there will be a strong focus on renewable energy, infrastructure and residential schemes as well as other commercial development projects. Project work will be within Wales and the South West and occasional further afield within the UK.

• Managing ecological projects (commensurate with experience), assisting team leads with managing resource allocation and financial budgets, addressing any client feedback and ensuring effective communications on all projects.
• Producing and overseeing the production of ecological appraisals, reports, licence applications, Ecological Impact Assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessments, EPS licences and other similar documents.
• Mentoring junior team members.
• Carrying out ecological surveys, where necessary, and checking that surveys are being carried out to the required standards by all staff.
• Assist the team leads with the preparation of fee proposals.
• A good level of both academic and professional qualifications in ecology or a related discipline.
• Experience of managing ecological projects to completion and reporting to the standards required by planning authorities, Natural Resources Wales and other similar bodies.
• Experience of making licence applications and holds at least 1 Protected Species licence. A bat licence would be advantageous.
• Experience of preparing a wide range of technical reports including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Ecological Impact Assessments, ES Chapters, Habitat Regulations Assessments and other technical reports.
• Experience of applying for Natural Resources Wales/Natural England mitigation licences.
• Good knowledge of relevant UK and European legislation, policy and guidance.
• Qualifying Member' status, or higher, of CIEEM.
• A full UK driving licence essential and access to own car is essential.
• Following its recent acquisition by SLR, Wardell Armstrong now forms part of a leading global environmental and sustainability consultancy working on projects across the world from over 100 offices. Our Ecology business is highly successful and as part of our ongoing plans to develop our teams, we are looking to appoint an experienced Ecologist with at least 4yrs experience for our Stoke and/or London offices.
• The joining of SLR and Wardell Armstrong brings together a team of approximately 200 ecologists distributed across the UK and Ireland. Our experienced consultants provide expert advice on ecological and environmental issues affecting a broad range of habitats and protected species. Licensed members of our team can deal with great crested newts, bats, badgers, dormice and reptiles. We're proud of our strong working relationships with Natural England, the Wildlife Trust, Natural Resources Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage. The ecology team works alongside several other environmental professionals within the Firm, including planners, archaeologists, arboriculturists, landscape architects and engineers, SLR are global leaders in Sustainability Solutions, helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals. We are a consultancy with 4000+ employees across 6 regions in over 125 countries. Our 'one team' culture is at the heart of our business, providing a collaborative and supportive environment for professional development. Along with competitive salaries, our staff enjoy a comprehensive benefits package with a company pension plus excellent healthcare offering, travel and life insurance and a structured career framework with regular reviews offering outstanding opportunities for progression. Alongside 25 day's annual leave, with additional flexible bank holidays, we offer flexible, agile and hybrid working which enables staff to tailor hours worked around core hours, with family friendly policies help balance the needs of professional and home life.