Senior/Principal ecologist with specialism in ornithology

isepglobal; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

24 days holiday

Pension contributions 10%

Health cover

CPD opportunities

Volunteer time

Life assurance 4x salary

Income protection

Wellbeing apps

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a senior/principal ecologist with a special interest in ornithology to join our UK ecology team. You will lead ornithological surveys, provide expert advice to clients, and work within multidisciplinary teams on transport, water and energy projects across the UK.

You'll be supported by our Global Career Framework while developing through professional bodies, and you'll have opportunities to influence major projects and bid strategy in a flexible hybrid working environment.

Qualifications

• Good bird identification skills and understanding of bird ecology.
• Membership of a professional body or eligibility for chartership.

Responsibilities

• Lead ornithological surveys and provide expert client advice.
• Support and contribute to a wide range of ecological surveys and assessments.
• Support Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitats Regulations Appraisals.
• Work across the UK in desk and site-based tasks with occasional travel.

Skills

Bird identification

Team leadership

Education

Professional body membership / chartership

Job description

Senior/Principal ecologist with specialism in ornithology

We have an exciting opportunity for a senior/principal ecologist with a special interest in ornithology to join our award-winning ecology team across the UK.

The successful individuals will join a respected and ambitious company with excellent career prospects both locally and internationally. We actively support the professional development of staff, through our Global Career Framework, Chartership Academy Programme, Employee Networks and our Community of Practice networks, which connect us to over 200 Jacobs ecologists in the UK and Ireland, and over 600 globally. You will work with hydrologists, geomorphologists, engineers, planner and project managers to provide support and advice to our clients. You will ensure ecology input is considered by project teams, work as a first point of contact and, with the support of the wider team, provide high quality technical advice.

What's In It For Me

• Global reach - collaborate with 600+ ecologists worldwide and tap into unmatched expertise
• Clear progression - structured development through our Global Career Framework & Chartership Academy
• Build your legacy - lead, grow and shape a team in your own vision
• Influence major projects - work with clients like Environment Agency, National Grid, Network Rail & National Highways
• Win and shape future work - play a key role in bidding, strategy and growth
• Be recognised as a leader - represent Jacobs through client engagement, industry presence and thought leadership
• You'll be trusted to lead, supported to grow, and empowered to make a genuine difference.

We Offer

Competitive salary: We offer compensation that reflects your skills and experience.

• 24 days holiday + option to buy a further 10 days
• Robust Pension Contributions: We offer enhanced pension contributions up to 10% to secure your future
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Single medical cover and Digital GP service, with options to add your partner and family
• Employee Networks: We have a commitment to hiring a diverse workforce and supporting colleagues of different backgrounds
• Family Planning Support: Access to fertility healthcare and family planning services
• Enhanced Parental Leave: Enjoy enhanced parental leave pay and free membership to employee assistance and parental programs
• 4 Life assurance at 4x your salary
• Income Protection: Financial security in case of long-term illness or injury
• Wellbeing Hub: Free access to wellbeing apps like Calm and Daily Burn
• Professional Development: We cover professional membership fees and provide continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities
• Community Engagement: Participate in charity matched-funding, paid volunteering time, and charitable donations

The role will include:

Delivering some of the most challenging, diverse and innovative projects. Presently, we are engaged across a range of sectors and projects including transport, water and energy for local, regional and national clients including government agencies, local authorities, utilities and energy companies.

Working in multidisciplinary teams - quickly building rapport and trust to ensure that ornithological requirements are recognised, acknowledged and constraints acted upon.

Using your experience in ornithology - to lead ornithological surveys, provide expert advice to clients (internal and external). In periods with limited ornithological workload, you will also support and contribute to a wide range of other ecological surveys, assessments, and project tasks as required.

Leveraging your experience of national legislation - to support Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulation Appraisals etc.

A combination desk and site-based tasks - you will need a willingness to work across the UK and at times, stay away from home during the working week. A background in terrestrial ecology with relevant industry experience including technical reporting and impact assessment in cognisance of national legislation and guidance.

• Good bird identification skills, with an understanding of bird ecology and a range of generic and species-specific bird survey techniques
• Scoping and execution of field surveys and data analysis
• Full membership of a professional body (or experience to obtain membership), with applications also welcomed from candidates holding chartership
• Inquisitiveness and willingness to learn
• High level of personal responsibility
• Ability to write clear and concise reports

Ideally, you'll also have:

• Current and full driving licence
• Another ecological specialism as well as Ornithology

Our Culture

Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and diversity. We put people at the heart of our business and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

We aim to embed inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we're more connected, and if we are diverse, we're more creative. We accept people for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, mental health, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you're pregnant or on family leave. This is reflected in our wide range of Global Employee Networks centred on inclusion and diversity - ACE, Careers, Enlace, Harambee, OneWorld, Prism, Women and Vetnet.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain diverse talent. As a Disability Confident employer, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we've gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximise your potential. You'll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from wellbeing benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you'll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals - all at a single global company.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we're more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we're keen to adapt to make every interaction even better.

References

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.