Senior Principal Ecologist — Lead Environmental Projects

AECOM; Croydon; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid working

Career development opportunities

Volunteering days

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Principal Ecologist to lead ecological consultancy work across multiple UK offices, including Croydon, with a flexible hybrid working model. You’ll shape environmental strategies and deliver high-impact biodiversity projects for high-profile clients.

You will oversee surveys, licensing, and impact assessments, while mentoring teams and contributing to business development. Chartered Ecologist or Environmentalist status is preferred, with licences held where applicable.

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in ecology or an associated subject.
• Membership of an appropriate professional institution and working towards or obtained Chartered Ecologist or Chartered Environmentalist status, and a holder of protected species survey and/or mitigation licences.
• Experience of leading and managing ecological surveys/licensing/impact assessment, as demonstrated by suitable professional experience.
• Experience in work-winning, managing projects, project budgets and leading stakeholder discussions.
• Experience of reviewing technical work and supporting wider team members.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support delivery of high-quality ecological consultancy and advisory services to both internal and external clients.
• Oversee plan, schedule and organise all phases of ecological project work, ensuring necessary resources, budgets and controls are in place to meet both programme and budget requirements.
• Support development of technically robust and pragmatic solutions to complex ecological issues.
• Lead and support production of ecology chapters for environmental statements and protected species licence applications.
• Author or technically check project deliverables to ensure high quality outputs.
• Support the continued development of our technical capabilities.

Skills

Ecology expertise

Project leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Work-winning

Mentoring & coaching

Education

Degree in ecology or related subject

Job description

AECOM is seeking a Principal Ecologist to lead ecological consultancy work across multiple UK offices, including Croydon, with a flexible hybrid working model. You’ll shape environmental strategies and deliver high-impact biodiversity projects for high-profile clients.

You will oversee surveys, licensing, and impact assessments, while mentoring teams and contributing to business development. Chartered Ecologist or Environmentalist status is preferred, with licences held where applicable.