W&E Principal AD Ecologist all offices

Jacobs; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

24 days holiday

Robust Pension Contributions up to 10%

Health Coverage

Employee Networks & Communities of BC

Family Planning Support

Enhanced Parental Leave

Life assurance at 4x salary

Income Protection

Wellbeing Hub

Professional Development CPD

Community Engagement

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Principal Ecologist or Associate Director to lead its UK ecology team, with a focus on Birmingham, Edinburgh, London and other offices. You will steer strategic direction, mentor staff, and act as the go-to expert for clients, regulators, and partners on ecological planning and delivery.

You’ll oversee EIA, Biodiversity Net Gain, and related biodiversity strategies while driving cross-disciplinary solutions and pursuing new work opportunities across the UK and Ireland.

Qualifications

• Strong background in terrestrial ecology with significant industry experience.
• Chartered status (or ready to achieve it) and willingness to travel across UK and Ireland.
• Proven experience in line management, mentoring and developing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic direction for the UK ecology team and contribute to UK-wide leadership.
• Inspire colleagues through empathetic, high-impact leadership and mentoring.
• Act as trusted advisor to clients, stakeholders and regulators.

Skills

Ecology leadership

Line management

Stakeholder engagement

Client relationship management

Strategic leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Field surveys & EIA

Biodiversity Net Gain

Education

Degree in Ecology/Environmental Science

Chartered status or eligible

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Principal / Associate Director Ecology – UK Wide with focus on, Birmingham, Scotland, Peterborough, London, Newcastle

This is your chance to lead from the front and shape the future of ecology. We’re looking for experienced and driven Principal Ecologists or Associate Directors to join our team nationally. We’re open to individuals joining any of our offices, but have a focus on Newcastle, Birmingham, London, Peterborough, Edinburgh and Glasgow teams.

You’ll take on line-management responsibilities and support the development of a high-performing team, while influencing decisions on nationally significant energy and water infrastructure, major highway and rail schemes.

Your expertise will directly influence decisions that impact communities, environments and sustainability outcomes for decades to come.

This isn’t just leadership - this is visible, meaningful impact at scale.

What’s In It for Me

At Jacobs, we don’t just offer jobs, we build careers. You’ll be joining a respected and ambitious company with a strong reputation for excellence and innovation.

Our commitment to your growth is backed by

• Global Career Framework – chart your path with clarity and purpose
• Chartership Academy Programme – support to achieve professional accreditation
• Employee Networks & Communities of Practice – connect with 600+ ecologists worldwide and influence beyond the UK
• A culture of collaboration and sustainability – work on projects that matter

You’ll be given the autonomy, support and platform to lead with confidence and make a tangible difference.

About The Opportunity

In this role, you will

• Help steer the strategic direction of the team, contributing to wider UK ecology leadership
• Lead and inspire colleagues through empathetic, high-impact leadership and mentoring
• Act as a trusted advisor - the go-to expert for clients, stakeholders and regulators
• Lead high-value client relationships and represent Jacobs externally
• Oversee and guide deliverables such as Ecological Impact Assessment, Biodiversity Net Gain, Habitats Regulations Assessments and biodiversity strategies
• Design and lead ecological monitoring programmes and survey strategies
• Work across disciplines to deliver integrated, innovative project solutions
• Play a key role in identifying, bidding and winning new work
• Champion your team internally, raising its profile across the wider business
• Oversee resource planning for the teams to ensure workloads are balanced and projects are properly supported

This is a rare opportunity to step into a role where you can combine technical excellence, strategic thinking and people leadership - all while working on projects that truly matter.

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
• 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

About The Opportunity

• We’re looking for a Principal Ecologist or Associate Director to help lead our Birmingham ecology team - a pivotal role within our UK ecology business.
• You’ll combine strategic leadership, technical excellence and people development, working across an exciting portfolio of projects spanning water, transport and energy infrastructure.
• Help steer the strategic direction for the Birmingham ecology team and contribute to UK-wide leadership
• Act as the go-to expert, providing high-quality advice to clients, stakeholders and regulators
• Build strong relationships through extensive client and stakeholder engagement
• Lead and inspire colleagues through empathetic, high-impact leadership and mentoring
• Apply your technical expertise across EIA, Habitat Regulations Assessment and Biodiversity Net Gain
• Design and oversee ecological monitoring and survey programmes
• Collaborate across disciplines to deliver integrated, innovative solutions
• Play a central role in identifying, bidding and winning new work
• Promote the ecology team’s capability across the wider business and externally
• This is your opportunity to shape not just projects, but people, performance and the future direction of the team.

Here’s what you'll need

You’re an experienced ecology leader who brings both credibility and vision.

• A strong background in terrestrial ecology with significant industry experience
• Chartered status (or ready to achieve it)
• A strategic mindset, with the ability to contribute to senior leadership decisions
• Proven experience in line management, mentoring and developing teams
• Strong client-facing skills and confidence engaging with stakeholders and regulators
• A flexible approach, with willingness to travel across the UK and Ireland when needed
• A proactive, hands‑on leadership style with strong self‑awareness
• The ability to adapt and thrive across diverse, complex projects

We’d be especially excited if you bring experience in

• Innovative scoping of ecological inputs
• Protected species licensing and biodiversity enhancements
• Project consenting and construction environments
• Stakeholder and regulator engagement
• Planning inquiries and examinations

Why Join Now?

Because this is more than a leadership role - it’s your chance to define the future of ecology within a global organisation while working on projects that shape the world around us.

If you’re ready to lead and influence, we’d love to hear from you.

Our Benefits

In addition to the benefits you’d expect, UK employees also receive

• up to 10% company contribution into their pension