Senior Ecologist UK wide

Jacobs; Wokingham; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering and environmental firm is seeking an Ecologist to join its UK Ecology Team. This role involves managing innovative infrastructure projects and conducting ecological assessments. Candidates should have a background in terrestrial ecology, strong communication skills, and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams. The company values professional development and offers flexible working arrangements, ensuring that employees can thrive and contribute positively to their communities.

Benefits

Company pension contribution

Professional development reimbursement

Paid volunteering time

Enhanced parental leave pay

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Delivering challenging and innovative infrastructure projects.
• A combination of desk and site-based tasks.
• Using experience in protected species survey and Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Working in multidisciplinary teams to ensure terrestrial ecology requirements are met.
• Designing ecological monitoring programmes and responsible for high quality data collection.
• Providing expert advice to clients and stakeholders.
• Mentoring and engaging with global communities of practice.

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.

We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

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
• online demand fitness platform provided by Daily Burn
• personalised financial planning and support provided by Origin

Fertility and family benefits and support

• enhanced parental leave pay
• fertility healthcare and family‑forming benefit provided by Carrot
• neurodiversity training benefit provided by RethinkCare Family
• Bridge the Gap parental transition programme

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
• desk‑based only roles

#LI‑NC2

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. 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 collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via [e-mail].