Senior/Principal Ecologist

SNC-Lavalin; Epsom; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the ecology sector is seeking a Senior or Principal Ecologist to join their Epsom/London office. The successful candidate will lead significant projects, engage with stakeholders, and contribute to innovative ecological solutions. This role offers a hybrid working model and opportunities for professional development within a diverse and inclusive team.

Benefits

Flexible working

Family-friendly policies

Support networks for diversity and inclusion

Qualifications

• Experience with UK Habitat surveys and Biodiversity Net Gain assessments.
• Protected species survey licenses.
• Full, clean UK driving license.

Responsibilities

• Leading on nationally important infrastructure projects.
• Planning and conducting field surveys.
• Authoring and reviewing ecological reports.

Skills

Project management

Botanical skills

Report writing

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in ecology or related field

Membership of CIEEM or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

To meet our growing project workload and help us design and apply new approaches to our work, we are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Senior or Principal Ecologist to join our Epsom/London office and become a part of the London and Southeast Ecology Practice.

At AtkinsRéalis, our team of over 140 ecologists work throughout the UK on diverse, challenging, and award-winning projects that benefit our clients, biodiversity, and society. Our ecology team was awarded the inaugural CIEEM Large-Scale Consultancy of the Year Award in 2018 and has been Highly Commended in the same category annually since then.

We promote innovative nature-based solutions across various sectors, collaborating with clients to contribute positively to the net zero, biodiversity, and climate emergency agendas. We are especially passionate about implementing biodiversity net gain on our projects and have positioned ourselves at the forefront of this approach.

We encourage pushing boundaries, promoting innovation, sharing knowledge, and working inclusively within our diverse team. We are committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, ensuring everyone feels respected, empowered, and able to reach their full potential.

Flexible working is integral to our culture, supporting a healthy work/life balance tailored to individual needs. The ideal candidate would prefer a hybrid working model based out of the Epsom/London office.

Joining us, you will contribute to high-profile, nationally significant projects, many of which have received awards for biodiversity, innovation, and knowledge sharing.

Your Purpose:

1. Leading on nationally important infrastructure projects, managing project programmes and budgets.
2. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and engaging stakeholders.
3. Planning and conducting field surveys; analyzing and interpreting survey results.
4. Designing and coordinating ecological mitigation.
5. Authoring and reviewing ecological reports and license applications.
6. Providing support and mentorship, especially to early-career staff.
7. Managing work inquiries, preparing bids, and building client relationships.
8. Maintaining strong relationships with team members, clients, and external bodies.
9. Developing a portfolio of ecological work in the South region through networking.

What You Can Bring:

• Membership of CIEEM or equivalent, with chartership (CEcol or CEnv); membership costs covered by AtkinsRéalis.
• A degree in ecology or a related field (desirable but not essential).
• Project management experience covering technical, financial, and quality assurance aspects.
• Strong botanical skills, including FISC level 4+ or equivalent.
• Experience with UK Habitat surveys, habitat assessments, and Biodiversity Metric, including Biodiversity Net Gain assessments.
• Proficiency in report writing for ecological assessments and impact statements.
• Experience leading project quality assurance and technical aspects.
• Experience with Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and DCO processes; familiarity with expert witness roles is advantageous.
• Protected species survey licenses.
• A full, clean UK driving license.

Why Work for AtkinsRéalis?

We are ranked among LinkedIn's Top 25 Companies in the UK and the Times Top 50 employers for women. Our Infrastructure team leverages innovation, data, and new approaches to deliver complex projects and challenge the status quo. We are committed to sustainable engineering, social value, and supporting diverse communities and employee networks.

Security Clearance:

This role may require security clearance, which depends on successful vetting by UKSV, including proof of residency in the UK for 5 years or more. Details of current or previous clearances should not be included in applications.

We promote diversity and inclusion, offering family-friendly policies, flexible working, and support networks to foster an inclusive environment for all.

#LI-INFRASTRUCTURE | #EnviroJobs

Worker Type: Employee

Job Type: Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we value diverse characteristics, backgrounds, and perspectives, believing that talent is enriched by differences in gender, ethnicity, age, religion, disability, and more.