Senior Ecologist (UK wide)

Jacobs; Remote; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental consultancy is seeking an Ecologist to join their UK Ecology Team. This role involves delivering challenging projects in various ecological assessments and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Ideal candidates have a strong background in ecological practices, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to quality. The company promotes career growth and offers flexible working arrangements. Join a dynamic organization that values sustainability and innovation.

Benefits

Up to 10% pension contribution

Professional development reimbursement

Volunteer time support

Annual leave buy/sell options

Qualifications

• Background in terrestrial ecology with significant industry experience.
• Experience in running ecological inputs on medium-large scale projects.
• High level of personal responsibility required.

Responsibilities

• Deliver challenging and diverse infrastructure projects.
• Conduct both desk and site-based tasks.
• Lead ecological monitoring programmes and manage survey teams.

Skills

Terrestrial ecology

Ecological Clerk of Works

Environmental Impact Assessment

Biodiversity Net Gain

Good written and verbal skills

Education

Membership of a professional body

Job description

Market Environmental

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Join Jacobs’ UK Ecology Team as an Ecologist and become part of a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation that’s making a real impact—locally and globally.

We’re hiring nationwide, with opportunities available in our offices across Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Peterborough and Reading. Wherever you’re based, you’ll find a welcoming team and exciting projects waiting for you.

At Jacobs, we don’t just offer jobs—we build careers. You’ll be joining a respected and ambitious company with a strong reputation for excellence and innovation. Our commitment to your growth is backed by :

• 🌍 Global Career Framework – chart your path with clarity and purpose
• 🎓 Chartership Academy Programme – support to achieve professional accreditation
• 🌍 Employee Networks & Communities of Practice – connect with over 200 ecologists in the UK & Ireland, and 600+ globally
• 🌱 A culture of collaboration and sustainability – work on projects that matter

Whether you're looking to lead groundbreaking ecological assessments or contribute to shaping environmental policy, Jacobs provides the platform to thrive.

Positions are available on a permanent full-time and part‑time, job share or flexible basis.

The role will include :

In this role, you’ll bring technical insight, strategic thinking, and a commitment to high-quality delivery;

• Delivering some of the most challenging, diverse and innovative infrastructure projects. Presently, we are engaged on a variety of large projects including water infrastructure, highway and rail schemes, energy infrastructure for clients
• A combination desk and site-based tasks
• Using your experience in protected species survey, Ecological Clerk of Works, Environmental Impact Assessment, Habitats Regulations Assessment and / or Biodiversity Net Gain.
• Working in multidisciplinary teams – quickly building rapport and trust to ensure that terrestrial ecology requirements are recognised, acknowledged and constraints acted upon.
• Designing ecological monitoring programmes - developing survey programmes, leading and / or managing survey teams and being responsible for high quality data collection
• Enthusiastically leading from the front - being the first point of contact in the provision of expert advice to both clients and stakeholders.
• A willingness to both learn from and mentor others – developing and sharing skills that build team and individual resilience. This will include engagement with our global communities of practice, externally facing communications (conferences, presentations, client meetings) and training events
• We offer different career pathways to suit your strengths - whether you’re motivated by line management responsibilities or prefer to focus on technical expertise, progression is supported in both routes, with management being an option rather than a requirement

Here's what you'll need

• A background in terrestrial ecology with significant years relevant industry experience.
• Full membership of a professional body (or experience to obtain full membership)
• Experienced in running ecological inputs on medium-large scale projects.
• Outstanding written and verbal skills with good attention to detail.
• High level of personal responsibility.

Ideally you’ll also have :

• Current and full driving licence.
• A technical specialism in the field of terrestrial ecology. However, if that’s not you, but you have broad experience and ability to pick up other ecological interests quickly, we’d love to hear from you too!

Our Culture

Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and diversity. We put people at the heart of our business and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

We aim to embed inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected, and if we are diverse, we’re more creative. We accept people for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, mental health, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. This is reflected in our wide range of Global Employee Networks centred on inclusion and diversity – ACE, Careers, Enlace, Harambee, OneWorld, Prism, Women and Vetnet.

Our Benefits

In addition to the benefits you’d expect, UK employees also receive :

• up to 10% company contribution into their pension,
• reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships,
• support to their local communities through our Collectively program which incorporates matched‑funding, paid volunteering time and charitable donations,
• opportunity to buy / sell annual leave.

Wellbeing support and resources

• free employee medical cover and digital GP service, including support for obtaining formal diagnosis for ASD, ADHD and Tourette syndrome under Private Medical Insurance
• a mindfulness platform,
• dedicated Workplace Support 1 : 1 Counselling Consultations,
• confidential information & counselling service provided by Optum. Emotional Wellbeing Solutions is a free confidential information and counselling service available 24 / 7 via phone or online. Experienced consultants are available to discuss finance, legal, family matters and counselling can be provided for personal support,
• online demand fitness platform provided by Daily Burn,personalised financial planning and support provided by Origin, with 1 : 1 access to dedicated certified financial planners.

Fertility and family benefits and support :

• enhanced parental leave pay,
• fertility healthcare and family‑forming benefit provided by Carrot. With Carrot, you can virtually chat with experts, explore educational resources, find a vetted provider, and use employer-sponsored funds to pay for care. Get support with : understanding fertility health, preservation (egg, sperm, embryo), assisted reproduction (e.g., in vitro fertilisation), adoption, gestational surrogacy, donor assistance, pregnancy, menopause, and low testosterone.
• a free parental success solution and neurodiversity training benefit provided by RethinkCare Family. The family solution gives you and your family 24 / 7 access to behavioural health support tools and resources to help parents or caregivers of children raise happy, healthy and resilient children : 1 : 1 digital & live support – unlimited access to Board Certified Behaviour Analysts and thousands of clinically validated audio / visual trainings, including support with ADHD & developmental disabilities.
• Bridge the Gap is our parental transition programme which aims to make Jacobs employer of choice for working parents, supporting them before, during and after the life‑changing milestone of becoming a parent. Bridge the Gap supports our efforts to create an environment where we can bring our authentic selves to work and achieve our full potential.

Work‑life balance and flexibility is a key focus area for Jacobs. We’re happy to discuss the different working patterns we offer :

• hybrid working,
• part‑time roles,
• flexible working hours including compressed hours (working full time hours over fewer days),
• annualised hours contract (working a defined number of hours over a year with an estimated average weekly hour pattern), and
• desk‑based only roles.