Senior/Principal Ecologist

Wardell Armstrong International Ltd.; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior/Principal Ecologist to join their dynamic team in Greater Manchester. This exciting role offers the opportunity to manage ecological projects, conduct field surveys, and mentor junior staff while working on a variety of impactful projects in renewable energy and infrastructure. The ideal candidate will have strong project management skills, experience in preparing technical reports, and a passion for sustainability. With a hybrid working arrangement and a range of attractive benefits, this position is perfect for someone looking to make a significant contribution to environmental consultancy.

Benefits

Hybrid home/office working arrangement

Toil + additional pay for unsocial hours

Group Personal Pension Plan

Payment of professional subscription

24 days annual leave

Private Health Care Scheme

Critical Illness Cover

Life Assurance Policy

Mobile Phone with inclusive tariff

Regular training programme

Qualifications

• Experience managing ecological projects and reporting to planning authorities.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work within a team.

Responsibilities

• Manage projects including resource allocation and client feedback.
• Lead ecological field surveys and produce various technical reports.
• Mentor junior team members and undertake quality assurance.

Skills

Project Management

Ecological Field Surveys

Technical Reporting

Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments

Communication Skills

Mentoring

Education

Associate or Full Member of CIEEM

Job description

Following its recent acquisition by SLR, Wardell Armstrong forms part of a leading global environmental and sustainability consultancy working on projects across the world from over 100 offices. Starting as a UK business in 1994, SLR now operates as a global company with more than 3,500 people, delivering client-focused solutions across Europe, North America, Pacific Asia and Africa. Throughout this time SLR has strived to grow both organically and through welcoming other like-minded businesses, such as Wardell Armstrong, into its “One Team” of talented consultants. In doing so, its core objective is to assist clients and colleagues alike in “Making Sustainability Happen”.

The Opportunity:

The joining of SLR and Wardell Armstrong brings together a team of approximately 150 ecologists across the UK. The Ecology team is highly successful and as part of our ongoing plans we wish to grow our team based out of Greater Manchester. We are looking to appoint a senior/principal ecologist who has strong project management skills, who is looking for a mixture of site/office work, and who is keen to mentor junior members of the team.

The ecology team works alongside several other environmental professionals within the Firm, including planners, archaeologists, arboriculturists, landscape architects and engineers. Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team is desirable but not essential. Project work will be varied, and there will be a strong focus on renewable energy, infrastructure, and residential schemes as well as other commercial development projects.

In this exciting role you will:

1. Take responsibility for managing projects including resource allocation, managing subcontractors, managing risk, quality assurance, and client feedback.
2. Lead and undertake ecological field surveys.
3. Analyse and apply professional judgement of survey results.
4. Produce a variety of reports including, PEAR, HRA’s and BNG assessments.
5. Devise and implement mitigation strategies and habitat management opportunities.
6. Mentor junior members of the team.
7. Preparation of fee proposals.
8. Undertake quality assurance of reports prepared by junior team members.

We are seeking:

• Experience of managing ecological projects to completion and reporting to the standards required by planning authorities, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, and other similar bodies.
• Experience of preparing a wide range of technical reports including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Ecological Impact Assessments, ES Chapters, Habitat Regulations Assessments, and other technical reports.
• Experience in Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments and designing Biodiversity Net Gain solutions.
• Be self-motivated with strong communication skills, be able to work as part of a team.
• Be an Associate or Full member of CIEEM or other relevant institute.
• Particular specialism such as ornithology/bats/habitat restoration (desirable but not essential).
• Personal species licences covering bats/GCN/otter (desirable but not essential).

Applicants must be flexible over travel and hours, particularly during the relevant survey periods and be prepared to work away from home as projects require. Due to the nature of the work a full driving licence and access to a car is required.

We offer:

• Hybrid home/office working arrangement.
• Toil + additional pay for unsocial hours (10pm – 6am).
• Membership of the Firm's Group Personal Pension Plan, with Employer's contribution of up to 5%.
• Payment of a relevant professional subscription.
• 24 days annual leave per year.
• Membership to the Firm's Private Health Care Scheme.
• Inclusion in the Firm's Critical Illness Cover Policy.
• Inclusion in the Firm's Life Assurance Policy, insuring you 3 times your annual salary.
• Mobile Phone with inclusive tariff including personal usage.
• Regular training programme.
• Flexitime Working Schedule.
• Long service awards.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Travel Loans.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Recruitment Bounty Scheme.