Technical Managing Consultant - Ornithology (Mid-Senior Level)

ERM; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

6% employer pension contribution

twice annual promotion opportunities

annual salary review

private medical insurance

life assurance

income protection

EV car salary sacrifice scheme

Cycle2Work scheme

travel season ticket loan

volunteering and Give As You Earn

employee assistance programme

gym discounts

Job summary

ERM is seeking a marine ecologist to join our Marine Ecology team within the Nature and Biodiversity group. You will deliver high‑quality EIA components with a focus on marine ornithology for clients across offshore wind, decommissioning, and other seabed sectors.

You will coordinate input from external specialists, prepare PEIRs and EIA chapters, and contribute to CRM and PVA outputs, while helping to develop our in‑house capabilities.

Qualifications

• Strong marine ornithology background and robust understanding of seabird ecology.
• Experience applying CRM and PVA models to EIA work.
• Ability to deliver high-quality environmental assessments and specialist input.

Responsibilities

• Deliver PEIRs, EIA chapters and related reports for marine projects.
• Coordinate input from external specialists and oversee CRM and PVA outputs.
• Help develop in-house capabilities in ornithology within EIA and Natura 2000 work.

Skills

Marine ornithology

CRM & PVA models

Public speaking

Education

BSc or MSc in a relevant technical subject

Tools

GIS (ArcGIS / QGIS)

MS Office

Job description

ERM is looking for a talented individual, with a proven track record of delivering marine ornithology elements of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), to join our Marine Ecology team; part of our Nature and Biodiversity group, within our Capital Project Delivery service line.

ERM’s Marine Ecology team offers high-quality services to clients across a range of sectors including: offshore wind; marine aggregates; carbon capture storage (CCS); oil and gas decommissioning; wave and tidal energy; subsea cables; coastal/marine engineering; and ports/harbours developments.

The team are currently driving the development of ERM’s Marine Centre of Excellence – a world-leading hub of marine environmental and planning consultancy services for a wide range of clients across numerous seabed user sectors and marine projects, including offshore wind.

Working in a dynamic and collaborate environment, you will be delivering reports to a high standard, including desk studies, scoping reports, Preliminary Environmental Information Reports (PEIRs), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) chapters, and specialist advice to UK and overseas Operators, Governments and Regulators. The focus of your input into any EIA and associated documentation will be in, but not limited to, the Subject Matter Expert (SME) topic of marine ornithology.

You will manage specialist technical input to PEIRs and EIAs using information from third parties/external subcontractors, such as Collision Risk Modelling (CRM) and Population Viability Analysis (PVA). You’ll have a thorough understanding of these key assessment aspects so that conclusions can be reviewed, questioned/challenged, and resolved (where required). Scope also exists for an ambitious applicant to lead in the development of our in-house capabilities in the ornithological aspects of EIA and Natura 2000 Assessments such as Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) including in-house CRM and PVA.

Why join ERM?

Flexible working to suit your life – need to do the school run? Not a problem! More productive and happy if you work from home a couple of days per week? Go ahead! Love to travel? Ask about our Cross Border Remote Working!

• 25 days annual leave + public holidays
• 6% employer pension contribution
• twice annual promotion opportunities
• annual salary review and performance related bonus
• private medical insurance
• life assurance
• income protection
• EV car salary sacrifice scheme
• Cycle2Work scheme
• travel season ticket loan
• volunteering and Give As You Earn opportunities
• employee assistance programme
• discounts on gym membership and gift cards for a wide variety of retailers and restaurants

About you

• BSc or MSc in a relevant technical subject
• Knowledge and experience across a variety of seabed user industries including offshore wind
• oil and gas decom., CCS, renewables (inc. hydrogen) and marine aggregates
• A strong robust scientific understanding and track record of marine ornithology, species ecology, and the associated impact assessments
• Demonstrable application/use of CRM and PVA models and outputs
• Good knowledge and understanding of the UK's marine biodiversity and ecosystems
• Knowledge and understanding of seabird survey design and the types of data available from such surveys e.g. Digital Aerial Survey, and the limitations associated with these data
• Extensive experience in the use of standard MS Office software
• Awareness of relevant European and domestic legislation concerning nature conservation and assessment of potential environmental effects in the marine environment, including the Marine and Coastal Access Act, Habitats Regulations, EIA Regulations
• An enthusiastic attitude and willingness to learn, as part of a team and under own supervision.

• Desirable Experience in marine consultancy or a technical marine field
• Understanding of Natura 2000 Special Protection Area apportioning
• Good knowledge and understanding of the EUNIS marine habitat classification system
• Knowledge and understanding of environmental survey design and the types of data available from marine biological surveys of the seabed in coastal or offshore environments, including remote sensing and ground truthing survey techniques, and the limitations associated with these data
• Comfortable with use of AI for research and workflow management
• Experience of project management, including knowledge / experience of completing tasks to agreed budgets and timeframesExperience of GIS packages (preferably ESRI™ ArcGIS or QGIS) to manipulate, interrogate and interpret spatial datasets, including integrating and analysing different types of data from multiple sources
• Experience of public speaking
• Specialist knowledge of a specific marine sector and associated potential impacts on the marine environment
• Understanding of Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRAs) and domestic Marine Protected Area (MPA) assessments, such as Marine Conservation Zone Risk Assessments (MCZ RAs) and Scottish Nature Conservation MPA assessments.

ERM is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive, it’s an essential part of what makes ERM a great place to build a career and helps us create better solutions for our clients.

We welcome talent from all backgrounds and provide equal opportunities for every candidate.

If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or need accommodations during the selection process, we’re here to support you.

Our commitment doesn’t stop at hiring. Once you join us, we’ll ensure you have the tools, support, and adjustments needed to succeed and feel a true sense of belonging.

Learn more about our Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (DIB) efforts by visiting our website or exploring our 2026 Sustainability Report.