Senior/Principal Ecologist

Southern Ecological Solutions (SES); Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday Leave

Life Assurance

Pension contributions

Generous holiday allowance

Private medical insurance

Flexible benefits programme

Job summary

Southern Ecological Solutions (SES) invites a Senior/Principal Ecologist to lead a team of ecologists, drive growth, and shape strategic direction from our Essex office in a hybrid role.

The role requires advanced ecology qualifications, proven leadership, and deep knowledge of habitat management and protected species, with opportunities to influence projects across infrastructure, development and conservation.

Qualifications

• Degree in ecology or a related field and substantial consultancy experience.
• Proven leadership, mentoring, and client development experience.
• Deep knowledge of ecological principles, legislation, and survey techniques.
• Strong strategic vision for ecological consultancy within planning sectors.
• Experience with licensing for protected species.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of ecologists, fostering excellence and professional growth.
• Drive business growth by securing contracts and expanding the client base.
• Provide high-level oversight on a portfolio of projects, ensuring on-time delivery within budget.
• Represent SES in the industry and contribute to best-practice guidance.
• Ensure projects comply with current legislation and quality standards.
• Collaborate with other SES and RSK Group departments to deliver integrated solutions.

Skills

Leadership

Client development

Ecological consultancy

Strategic thinking

Project management

Education

Degree in Ecology

Job description

Senior/Principal Ecologist

Elevate Your Career as a Senior or Principal Consultant at Southern Ecological Solutions (SES). Are you a seasoned ecological professional ready to take on a leadership role?

We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Consultant to join our dynamic team. This full-time, permanent position offers a hybrid working model, ideal for those within commuting distance to our Essex office. Lead a team, drive growth, and shape the future of your community with SES.

Why SES?

SES is a leading Ecological, Arboricultural and Landscape Planning & Design consultancy. Over the past decade, we've built a reputation for delivering pragmatic, solution-oriented consultancy services. Our diverse clientele ranges from multinational corporations working on high-profile projects to individual homeowners with smaller-scale needs.

Join SES and become a part of a company known for its sustainable growth and exceptional client service. Help us continue to make a positive impact on the environment through innovative ecological solutions.

Your Role

• Leadership & Team Development: Lead and inspire a team of ecologists, fostering a culture of excellence and professional growth. Ensure the delivery of high-quality work that aligns with SES’s standards and client expectations.
• Work Winning & Client Development: Drive business growth by identifying new opportunities, securing contracts, and expanding our client base. Build and maintain strong client relationships, understanding their needs and providing tailored ecological solutions.
• Strategic Oversight: Provide high-level oversight on a diverse portfolio of projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards. Lead complex ecological assessments and mitigation strategies.
• Thought Leadership: Represent SES in the wider industry, sharing insights, and contributing to the development of best practices in ecological consultancy.
• Compliance & Quality Assurance: Ensure all projects comply with current legislation and best practice guidelines, upholding the reputation of SES through rigorous quality control.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with other departments within SES and the wider RSK Group to deliver integrated solutions that meet our clients' needs.

What We’re Looking For

• Advanced Qualifications: Hold a degree in ecology or a related field, with substantial experience in professional ecological consultancy.
• Proven Leadership: Demonstrate experience in leading, mentoring and supporting a team, managing high-profile projects, and driving business development within the ecological consultancy sector.
• Ecological Expertise: Possess deep knowledge of ecological principles, legislation, and survey techniques, with significant experience in habitat management and protected species.
• Strategic Vision: Have a strong understanding of ecological consultancy within the broader environmental and planning sectors, with a proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans.
• Licensing and Compliance Mastery: Be adept at navigating protected species licensing, with a track record of advising on and implementing successful mitigation strategies.

What We Offer

Along with a Competitive Salary of £35,000 - £48,000 for Senior Level Candidates and £40,000 - £58,000 for Principal Level Candidates, you will enjoy a wide range of company benefits including:

• Birthday Leave: Enjoy a day off to celebrate your birthday.
• Life Assurance: Benefit from our life assurance plan to provide peace of mind.
• Pension Contributions: Receive contributions to your pension plan to support your future.
• Generous Holiday Allowance: Start with 20 days of holiday (plus bank holidays), increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 28 days.
• Private Medical Insurance: Access private medical insurance to take care of your health.
• Flexible Benefits Programme: Tailor your benefits with options to buy additional holidays, health cash plans, and discounted gym memberships, allowing you to choose what suits you best.

RSK Group is an Equal Opportunities Employer

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We firmly believe that embracing and celebrating the diversity in our workforce makes us a stronger and more innovative company.

By providing workplace adjustments, we make it easier for people to confidently explore and pursue our career opportunities and recognise that flexibility is key to fostering a dynamic and thriving workplace. Many of our office-based positions benefit from a flexible working arrangement, allowing our team members to achieve a balance between professional and personal commitments.

We actively encourage applications from candidates of all genders, races, ethnicities, ages, neurotypes, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, and those with disabilities.

If you're passionate about making a difference, join us as we work together to build a brighter, more equitable, and sustainable future for all. Do you have what it takes?

About Us

We are a multi-disciplinary consultancy specialising in ecology, habitat management, arboriculture, and landscape design, based in Essex, UK. Since our company’s founding, we have grown to become a leading UK provider of specialist ecological, arboricultural and landscape design consulting services. We are known for devising sustainable, pragmatic, and client-focused solutions. Our diverse portfolio includes clients in the fields of infrastructure, development, conservation charities and individual bespoke projects. Our business is continuing to expand into new markets, and we are forming new teams to meet future challenges.

SES has a team of 52 qualified ecologists, landscape architects, arboriculturists and coordination and support staff. Currently, we’re working with Barratt Homes and the RSPB on a large residential housing development, Kingsbrook, a case study in the biodiversity net gain best practice principles for development. Our ecological work includes due diligence reporting, land appraisals, habitat design and creation, protected species surveys and ecological impact assessments. Landscape design and planning services teams specialise in strategic projects, combining an innovative and context-led approach to design.

SES is part of the RSK Group, a leading integrated environmental, engineering, and technical services business providing dynamic, multidisciplinary services to a wide range of sectors. RSK was founded in 1989 and has grown considerably since then.

At RSK, we operate as a group of businesses that work together seamlessly, aiming for growth through diversification. Our strategy helps us build a strong and resilient business, capable of weathering external challenges, while also providing greater value to our clients and more opportunities for our employees.

Since the beginning, our philosophy has remained the same: employ, develop and reward talented individuals. People are crucial to our company, and we recognise that our success hinges on our colleagues' growth. We're committed to preserving RSK's people-first culture, promoting innovation, and fostering a supportive and caring environment for collaboration. At RSK, we want you to be part of our successes and help you reach your career aspirations. We take pride in offering employees fulfilling and challenging careers by promoting ongoing growth and empowering individuals to excel.