Senior/Principal Ecologist (Bat Specialist)

AtkinsRéalis Group; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Professional development

Competitive salary

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Bat Licensed Ecologist to join our ecology team in the UK. The role involves field surveys, mitigation design, and authoring ecological reports for infrastructure projects, with opportunities to contribute to bids and cross‑sell capabilities.

You will work across Cardiff or Bristol offices and engage with clients early in project stages. The ideal candidate holds a bat licence from Natural England/NRW, is a CIEEM member or pursuing it, and has strong report writing and

Qualifications

• Bat licence issued by Natural England or NRW.
• Full membership of CIEEM or actively working towards it.
• Full UK/EU driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Interact with clients to understand requirements and manage expectations.
• Support on nationally important infrastructure projects, managing programmes and budgets.
• Plan and undertake field surveys; analyse results and prepare reports.
• Design ecological mitigation and coordinate licensing where needed.
• Author and check ecological reports and licence applications.
• Engage across the business to develop opportunities and bids.

Skills

Client liaison

Project management

Field survey planning

Report writing

Education

CIEEM membership

Tools

Habitat survey methods

Biodiversity Metrics (Defra)

Job description

Job Description

Overview

At AtkinsRéalis, our award winning team of over 130 ecologists work throughout the UK to deliver a diverse range of challenging and exciting projects that benefit our clients, biodiversity and society. To meet our growing project workload, we are looking for an enthusiastic Bat Licensed Ecologist to join either our Cardiff or Bristol office. Joining us, you will have the opportunity to contribute to nationally significant and high‑profile projects, with many of our projects winning awards for biodiversity enhancements, innovation, and knowledge sharing.

Our ecology team truly strives to make a positive difference to the natural environment by working closely with other disciplines across our business to engage in projects from the outset ensuring ecology is considered at the earliest possible stage. This collaborative working helps to drive forward nature positive schemes that we are proud of.

Your role

• Client facing/client interaction – The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of clients’ requirements.
• Supporting on nationally important infrastructure projects, managing project programmes and budgets.
• Planning and undertaking field surveys; analysing and interpreting survey results.
• Designing and co-ordinating ecological mitigation.
• Authoring and checking a range of ecological reports and licence applications.
• Interdisciplinary engagement – the candidate will actively seek to engage with other areas of the business, seeking opportunities to cross sell and leverage AtkinsRéalis’ capabilities, preparing bids, supporting on strategic opportunities, building client relationships (internal and external) and driving work‑winning in the region.
• Candidate will proactively provide innovation on projects and within the ecology team.
• Candidate may coach, mentor and support other staff members in their development.
• This role will have tailored mentoring and support towards achieving career goals, such as Chartership.
• Appropriate training courses external and internal will be reviewed with your mentor and Practice Manager.

About you

• A Natural England / Natural Resources Wales bat licence.
• Experience of working on Natural England or Natural Resources Wales mitigation licences as accredited agents.
• Full Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) or actively working towards this.
• Strong skills in report writing, including preparing Preliminary Ecological Assessments, Ecological Impact Assessments, Biodiversity Chapters for Ecological Impact Assessments and Habitats Regulations Assessment (including Appropriate Assessment) and Protected species survey licence(s).
• Strong working knowledge and experience of UK Habitat survey, habitat condition assessments, and the Defra Biodiversity Metric.
• Ideally project management experience including technical, financial and quality assurance aspects.
• Experience of working on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and familiarity with the Development Consent Order (DCO) process, would be viewed favourably.
• A desire to contribute to the growth and development of the team.
• A full UK/EEC driving licence.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

About AtkinsRéalis

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world‑class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.
#LI-INFRASTRUCTURE | #EnviroJobs #EcjobsUK

Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis_, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world‑class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences. _