Technical Director of Ecology

Lanpro; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension plan

Career progression

Professional CPD

Private medical insurance

Gym discounts

Job summary

Lanpro is seeking a Technical Director to provide strategic Ecology leadership across the North of England. The role combines deep ecological expertise with business development, bid leadership and high‑level project oversight.

You will shape and grow the ecology team, drive revenue, and lead complex EcIA, HRA and BNG work while collaborating with Directors across the Group. Hybrid work across multiple northern offices is supported.

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in Ecology, Environmental Science or related discipline.
• Significant senior consultancy leadership experience in ecology.
• Proven track record of growing business and leading teams.
• Strong financial management and business development skills.
• Expertise in EcIA, HRA, and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
• Experience delivering nationally significant or complex projects.
• Full UK driving license.

Responsibilities

• Act as a technical authority for Ecology across the business.
• Lead technical excellence, innovation and best practice initiatives.
• Provide strategic oversight on major and complex projects.
• Undertake technical reviews of key deliverables.
• Develop and maintain technical standards, procedures and guidance.
• Support colleagues with specialist technical advice.
• Lead on complex EcIA, HRA and BNG assessments.
• Lead the strategic growth and performance of the Northern Ecology Business.
• Develop and implement regional business plans and growth strategies.
• Build, lead and inspire a high-performing ecology team.
• Drive revenue growth, profitability and market expansion.
• Support business development through technical leadership and client engagement.
• Lead major framework opportunities, bids and strategic pursuits.
• Oversee operational performance, resource planning and financial management.
• Work collaboratively with Directors across the Group to support multidisciplinary growth.
• Represent Lanpro at conferences, industry groups and professional forums.

Skills

Ecology leadership

Team leadership

Business development

Client relations

Strategic planning

Education

Degree in Ecology or related

Job description

About Lanpro

Lanpro is a market leading multi-disciplinary consultancy who specialise in Environment led Planning and Design. We work on projects at all scales within town, semi-rural and rural contexts, across a variety of sectors that includes residential, historic sites and estates, renewable energy, infrastructure and mixed-use commercial developments.

Our Offices and Services

Lanpro is a fast growing, unique and rewarding environment. Through its agile team and comprehensive service, it has allowed growth nationwide. Our Group now has access to offices in Norwich, London, Cambridge, Manchester, Edinburgh, York, Bath, Glasgow, Milton Keynes, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter and Chelmsford.

Our multidisciplinary service spans across multiple disciplines. Our Group offerings now include Planning, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Ecology, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Landscape Architecture, Architecture & Design, Arboriculture, Visualisation, Historic Environment, Acoustics, Air Quality, Civil Engineering, Geo-environmental, MEP Building Services, Structures, Sustainability, Transport & Highways, Utilities, Water & Flood Risk.

We thrive on creating a culture and environment which provides a great variety of projects, recognition of success, continuous professional development and collaboration across an array of different professions. To find out more about our culture, please click here. We are proud that together, our teams are supporting delivery of some of the largest solar and battery storage schemes in the United Kingdom and Europe. We have a strong pipeline of opportunities across the energy, residential and infrastructure sectors.

Culture and Development

We offer an environment that is diverse, entrepreneurial and encourages innovation and your professional development.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

We are excited to build our talent pipeline for this role

We are seeking a Technical Director to provide strategic technical leadership across our Ecology business, together with leading and growing our ecology presence across the North of England. This role is suited to a recognised technical specialist and senior leader who can combine deep ecological expertise with strong commercial awareness, team leadership and business development skills.

This role is ideal for an established leader looking to shape and grow an ecology team, influence project outcomes at a strategic level, and contribute to the continued success of a multidisciplinary consultancy.

Whilst this position will ideally be based in our York office we are open to candidates based in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, with responsibility for leading and expanding our ecology presence across the North of England and beyond. Travel to other offices and project sites will be required as part of the role. Full time and part time working will be considered for this role.

What You Will Do

• Act as a technical authority for Ecology across the business.
• Lead technical excellence, innovation and best practice initiatives.
• Provide strategic oversight on major and complex projects.
• Undertake technical reviews of key deliverables.
• Develop and maintain technical standards, procedures and guidance.
• Support colleagues with specialist technical advice.
• Lead on complex EcIA, HRA and BNG assessments.
• Lead the strategic growth and performance of the Northern Ecology Business.
• Develop and implement regional business plans and growth strategies.
• Build, lead and inspire a high-performing ecology team.
• Drive revenue growth, profitability and market expansion.
• Support business development through technical leadership and client engagement.
• Lead major framework opportunities, bids and strategic pursuits.
• Oversee operational performance, resource planning and financial management.
• Work collaboratively with Directors across the Group to support multidisciplinary growth.
• Represent Lanpro at conferences, industry groups and professional forums.

Essential Requirements

• Degree (or equivalent) in Ecology, Environmental Science or related discipline.
• Extensive senior-level consultancy experience with signification experience in ecological consultancy leadership.
• Proven track record of leading and developing high-performing teams and growing business performance.
• Strong commercial and financial management experience.
• Demonstrable success in business development and maintaining strategic client relationships.
• Expertise in:
  • Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA)
  • Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)
  • Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
• Proven experience delivering nationally significant or complex projects.
• Excellent technical review and quality assurance capabilities.
• Strong understanding of UK planning policy and environmental legislation.
• Full membership of CIEEM.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable Requirements

• Protected species licences.
• NSIP experience.
• Expert Witness experience.
• Industry presentations.
• Experience leading regional or national business units.
• Experience contributing to corporate strategy, business planning and organisational growth initiatives.
• Chartered status or equivalent professional recognition.

Benefits

As a valued employee of Lanpro, you can expect to feel looked after. We offer the following great benefits as standard:

• Day One
  • Enhanced Annual Leave entitlement
  • Death in service cover
  • Centrally based City offices
  • Hybrid working environment (flexible work)
  • Protected CPD (Department, individual and companywide)
  • Professional Body membership contribution
  • Enhanced Company pension
  • Career progression framework and development, including two defined promotion windows annually.
  • E Learning portal access
  • Non contractual growth bonus scheme
• After Probation and Beyond
  • Loyalty Leave (Continuous Service Accrued Annual Leave up to 5 days)
  • Vitality Health Care - Private Medical Insurance
    • Discounted Gym membership
    • Discounts and perks - Amazon prime, Free Odeon Cinema tickets, Apple benefits and Café Nero
    • Employee Assistance Program - including Financial and Mental Health support from external expertise.
  • BUPA Cash Plan
    • Employee Assistance Program - including Financial and Mental Health support from external expertise.
  • Cycle to work scheme