Senior Ecologist (Darwin Ecology)

Darwin Ecology Ltd; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit-linked annual bonus

25+ days annual leave

Enhanced maternity / paternity pay

Professional membership fees paid

Generous training and equipment budget

37.5 hour week with TOIL

Pet-friendly offices

Clear path to grow specialisms

Job summary

Darwin Ecology Ltd is seeking a skilled ecologist with UK consultancy experience to join our teams in the south of England. You will work in a flexible, hybrid setup with autonomy over your schedule, leading surveys, delivering high-quality reports, and mentoring junior ecologists across Shaftesbury, Bristol, and Farnham.

We value conservation-led work, supportive culture, and diverse projects. A driving licence and willingness to travel to sites are expected as part of a balanced field-centric

Qualifications

• Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology or similar is required.
• Solid UK consultancy experience and technical excellence are essential.
• Strong report writing and client communication skills are required.
• One or more protected species survey licences (e.g., bats, GCN, dormice, etc.) are preferred.
• UK driving licence and willingness to travel to sites are expected.

Responsibilities

• Conducting complex scoping visits on larger sites and challenging planning/licensing cases.
• Organising and overseeing field surveys (bat, reptile, dormouse) and line-managing ecologists and sub-consultants.
• Leading bat surveys when required (typically weekly).
• Reporting results clearly to clients in actionable form.
• Quality assuring and signing off reports by the team.
• Managing projects of all sizes and devising ecological mitigation solutions.

Skills

UK consultancy experience

Report writing

Client communication

Team leadership or mentoring

Autonomy over work

Education

Degree in Ecology or Environmental Science or Biology

Job description

Shape Your Career Around Your Life

We know that talented, experienced ecologists don’t always fit neatly into a 9–5. At Darwin Ecology, flexible and hybrid working isn’t a perk we mention in passing — it’s built into how we operate. We’ll work with you to design a role and schedule that plays to your strengths and fits your life.

Who we’re looking for:

You’re a skilled, confident ecologist based near Bristol or Shaftesbury with several years of UK consultancy experience under your belt. You care deeply about conservation, you’re good with clients and organising a team, and you’re ready for a role where your expertise is valued — and where you have autonomy over your work.

You might be looking for somewhere that offers professional challenge without the inflexibility or pressure culture that can come with larger firms. That’s exactly what we’ve built.

You’ll bring:

• Solid UK consultancy experience and technical excellence
• A degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology or similar
• Strong report writing and client communication skills
• One or more protected species survey licences (ideally bats but also GCN, dormice, barn owls, or rare reptiles)
• Experience with planning systems, EcIAs, HRAs, and Biodiversity Net Gain
• A UK driving licence and willingness to travel to sites

Even better if you have:

• Natural England Level 2 class survey licence for bats
• Mitigation licensing or Named Ecologist experience
• BMCL registration or Earned Recognition credentials
• Management or mentorship experience
• Full CIEEM membership, or Chartered Ecologist status – or active progress towards either

What a career at Darwin looks like:

We’re a well-established consultancy across the south and south west of England, known for thoughtful, conservation-led work across a diverse range of projects. Our teams in Shaftesbury, Bristol and Farnham collaborate closely and there’s not a competitive culture.

Key Responsibilities could include:

• Conducting complex scoping visits, including larger sites and more challenging planning or licensing situations
• Organising and overseeing field surveys – bat, reptile or dormouse surveys, badger monitoring checks — and line managing Assistant Ecologists, Ecologists and sub-consultants carrying them out
• Leading bat surveys where required, typically one or two per week
• Reporting results to clients clearly and succinctly, in a form they can act on with confidence
• Quality assuring and signing off reports produced by other members of the team
• Managing projects of all scales independently, including devising innovative solutions to ecological mitigation and compensation problems that don’t have an off-the-shelf answer

What we offer:

• Flexible and hybrid working — structured around your needs
• Profit-linked annual bonus
• 25+ days annual leave, increasing over time
• Enhanced maternity / paternity pay
• Professional membership fees paid
• Generous training and equipment budget every year
• 37.5 hour week with a structured TOIL system
• Pet-friendly offices
• A clear path to grow your specialisms and shape your own role

Why Darwin?

We’re a small business that is managed with empathy, where solidarity between members is encouraged. Small enough that your work really matters, and established enough to offer real stability and a strong reputation. You won’t be a cog in a machine here, or spend weeks working away from home — you’ll be a named, respected voice on projects you can be proud of.

If you’re at a point in your career where you want meaningful work, flexibility, and a team that champions you — we’d love to hear from you.