Senior Ecologist (E3 Ecology)

CIEEM Scotland Policy Group; England; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote working

Flexitime

Paid overtime / TOIL

4-day working week

Annual leave and birthday leave

Health plan and pension

Training and career progression

Job summary

E3 Ecology is seeking a Senior Ecologist to lead field surveys, manage projects and provide client liaison across North East England. You will guide technical reports, QA deliverables and contribute to service development.

Applicants should have substantial ecological consultancy experience, strong report-writing skills, GIS proficiency, and a track record in project management and mentoring junior staff. Flexible and remote working options are available.

Qualifications

• Extensive ecological consultancy experience and ability to lead habitat and protected species surveys.
• Strong technical report writing skills and knowledge of UK ecological planning and licensing.
• Experience managing projects, meeting deadlines and liaising with clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead habitat and protected species surveys and prepare technical reports.
• Manage projects from instruction to completion, ensuring deliverables meet client requirements.
• Provide ecological advice to clients, local authority ecologists and other consultants.
• Prepare protected species licence applications and support mitigation and licensing work.
• Mentor junior staff, with potential for future line management.
• Undertake technical review and QA of colleagues’ reports.
• Contribute to the continued development of E3 Ecology and its services.

Skills

Ecology consultancy

Habitat & protected species surveys

Project management

Client liaison

Technical report writing

GIS / QGIS

Education

CIEEM Associate or Full Membership

Tools

GIS / QGIS

Job description

E3 Ecology is a well-established specialist ecological consultancy based in North East England. We have a strong local reputation for delivering high-quality, practical ecological advice efficiently and professionally.

We work across residential, minerals, infrastructure, renewable energy and habitat creation and enhancement projects. Our services include habitat and protected species surveys, ecological assessments, planning support, habitat management plans, protected species licensing and training.

The role

We are looking for an experienced Senior Ecologist to join our supportive, forward-thinking team. The role combines fieldwork, project management, technical work and client liaison, including:

• Leading habitat and protected species surveys and preparing technical reports.
• Managing projects from instruction to completion, ensuring surveys, reports and other deliverables meet seasonal and client requirements.
• Providing ecological advice to clients, local authority ecologists and other consultants.
• Preparing protected species licence applications and supporting mitigation and licensing work.
• Mentoring junior staff, with potential for future line management.
• Undertaking technical review and QA of colleagues’ reports.
• Contributing to the continued development of E3 Ecology and its services.

What we’re looking for

• Experience in ecological consultancy, including leading habitat and protected species surveys.
• Strong technical report-writing skills and knowledge of UK ecological planning and licensing.
• Experience managing projects, meeting deadlines and liaising confidently with clients.
• Good botanical skills, ideally including Phase 1 and/or UKHab survey experience (e.g. FISC Level 3 or equivalent).
• Good GIS skills, ideally QGIS, and strong general IT skills.
• Excellent organisation, attention to detail and the ability to work independently while contributing positively to a small team.
• Bat and/or great crested newt survey licences, or relevant experience towards obtaining them.
• Experience mentoring or supervising junior staff.
• CIEEM Associate or Full Membership, or willingness to work towards membership.
• Experience of habitat creation/enhancement and a range of development sectors.

We recognise that ecologists develop different technical specialisms, so you do not need to meet every desirable criterion. We welcome applications from candidates whose experience and ambitions align with the role.

What we offer

We believe a good ecological consultancy should provide genuine flexibility, manageable workloads and opportunities to develop. We offer:

• £35,000–£42,000 FTE salary, plus discretionary annual bonus and length-of-service bonus.
• Remote working and flexitime, with site-based survey work across North East England and surrounding areas. Weekly team meeting in South Northumberland or Durham.
• Paid overtime and/or TOIL.
• 4-day working week considered.
• 20 days’ annual leave, plus your birthday, three days between Christmas and New Year and bank holidays, with additional leave awarded for length of service.
• Employee Health Cash Plan and pension contributions.
• Tailored training and structured career progression.
• Regular workload and project reviews to help maintain manageable workloads.
• A supportive, friendly working environment and varied ecological survey and consultancy work.