Senior Ecologist

Cobalt Consulting (UK) Ltd; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

Remote work options

25 days leave

Job summary

Cobalt Consulting (UK) Ltd is seeking an Ecologist to join a collaborative team in the UK. The role blends fieldwork, reporting, and project management with client interaction across a varied portfolio.

The ideal candidate will have 4+ years of consultancy experience, knowledge of UKHab and BNG, ECoW practice, GIS (QGIS) skills, and a full UK driving licence with willingness to travel.

Qualifications

• 4+ years' consultancy experience.
• Experience delivering protected species surveys, habitat surveys and ecological reporting.
• Good knowledge of UKHab, Biodiversity Net Gain and UK ecological legislation.
• Experience acting as an ECoW and delivering site-based work.
• Membership of CIEEM (or working towards).
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel, including overnight stays.

Responsibilities

• Undertaking protected species and habitat surveys.
• Delivering UKHab surveys and Biodiversity Net Gain assessments.
• Acting as Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) and supporting compliance.
• Managing ecological projects from survey through to delivery.
• Preparing and reviewing technical reports (PEAs, EcIAs, HRA screening, licences, habitats).
• Supporting project management, programme delivery and commercial performance.
• Producing habitat maps and spatial analysis using GIS.
• Building relationships with clients, contractors and stakeholders.
• Supporting tender submissions and project proposals.
• Mentoring junior ecologists and providing technical guidance.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Degree in Ecology or related environmental discipline

Tools

QGIS

Job description

Whether you're looking to take the next step in your ecology career or you're already operating at Senior level, you'll join a collaborative team working on a varied portfolio of projects with excellent opportunities for technical development, project responsibility and long-term career progression.

This role offers a blend of fieldwork, technical reporting, project management and client interaction, with flexibility to work remotely, on-site and alongside experienced ecological specialists.

The Role

• Undertaking protected species and habitat surveys.
• Delivering UKHab surveys and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments, including metric calculations.
• Acting as Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) and supporting environmental compliance on sit.e
• Managing ecological projects from survey through to delivery.
• Preparing and reviewing technical reports including PEAs, EcIAs, HRA screening, protected species licence applications and habitat assessments.
• Supporting project management, programme delivery and commercial performance.
• Producing habitat maps and spatial analysis using GIS software..
• Building strong relationships with clients, contractors and project stakeholders.
• Supporting tender submissions and project proposals.
• Mentoring junior ecologists and providing technical guidance (Senior level).

About You

• A degree in Ecology or a related environmental discipline.
• 4+ years' consultancy experience.
• Experience delivering protected species surveys, habitat surveys and ecological reporting.
• Good knowledge of UKHab, Biodiversity Net Gain and UK ecological legislation.
• Experience acting as an ECoW and delivering site-based work.
• Membership of CIEEM (or working towards).
• Ideally at least one protected species licence or working towards (bat, dormouse or similar desirable), with additional licences advantageous.
• Experience using GIS software such as QGIS.
• Excellent organisational, communication and project management skills.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel, including occasional overnight stays.

Desirable Experience

• Ecological consultancy experience across infrastructure, highways, rail, utilities or property projects.
• Experience preparing EcIAs, HRAs and protected species licence applications.
• Strong understanding of planning processes and environmental legislation.
• Experience liaising with clients, contractors and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Knowledge of digital data collection tools and bat analysis software.

Salary & Benefits

• Competitive salary dependent on experience.
• Company vehicle or car allowance.
• Remote working arrangements.
• Ongoing training, mentoring and professional development.
• Support towards protected species licences and CIEEM progression.
• 25 days annual leave, plus birthday leave and bank holidays.
• Clear opportunities for career progression.

Why Apply?

This is an excellent opportunity to join a forward-thinking consultancy that genuinely invests in its people. You'll work on a diverse range of high-profile projects, gain exposure to all stages of project delivery and have the support to progress your career-whether you're looking to develop into a Senior Ecologist or further enhance your technical and leadership experience.