Associate Director Ecologist (Belfast/ Cork/ Dublin)

Jacobs; Dublin; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 8% company pension contribution

Life assurance

Income protection

Reimbursement for professional development

Support for local communities

Free employee medical cover

Mindfulness platform

Enhanced parental leave pay

Work-life balance initiatives

Job summary

Jacobs is looking for an experienced Principal Ecologist or Associate Director to shape our Irish ecology team. This role is crucial within our European ecology business, contributing to strategic direction and acting as a trusted advisor to clients.

The ideal candidate will have significant industry experience in terrestrial ecology, strong client-facing skills, and a strategic mindset. We offer a range of benefits including a robust pension plan, professional development support, and flexible working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Strong background in terrestrial ecology with significant industry experience.
• Ability to contribute to senior leadership decisions.
• Flexible approach with willingness to travel across the UK and Ireland.

Responsibilities

• Steer the strategic direction of the team.
• Act as a trusted advisor for clients, stakeholders, and regulators.
• Design and lead ecological monitoring programmes.

Skills

Terrestrial ecology expertise

Client-facing skills

Strategic mindset

Hands-on leadership

Education

Chartered status or readiness to achieve it

Job description

Position Overview

We’re looking for an experienced and driven Principal Ecologist or Associate Director to help shape our Irish ecology team – a pivotal role within our European ecology business.

Responsibilities

• Help steer the strategic direction of the team, contributing to wider UK ecology leadership
• Act as a trusted advisor – the go‑to expert for clients, stakeholders and regulators
• Lead high‑value client relationships and represent Jacobs externally
• Although you won’t have any defined line management responsibilities, you’ll drive team growth, resilience and performance through mentoring and empathetic leadership
• Oversee and guide EIA, Appropriate Assessment 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

Qualifications

• 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
• 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

Desired Experience

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

Benefits

• Up to 8% company contribution into their pension
• Life assurance and income protection scheme
• Reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships
• Support to their local communities through our Collectively program which incorporates matched‑funding, paid volunteering time and charitable donations
• Opportunity to buy/sell annual leave
• Free employee medical cover and digital GP service
• Mindfulness Platform
• Dedicated Workplace Support 11 Counselling Consultations
• Confidential information & counselling service provided by Optum; Emotional Wellbeing Solutions is a free confidential information and counselling service available 24/7 via phone or online; experienced consultants are available to discuss finance, legal, family matters and counselling can be provided for personal support
• Personalised financial planning and support provided by Origin, with access to dedicated certified financial planners
• Enhanced parental leave pay
• Fertility healthcare and family‑forming benefit provided by Carrot; supports fertility health, preservation, assisted reproduction, adoption, gestational surrogacy, donor assistance, pregnancy, menopause, and low testosterone
• A free parental success solution and neurodiversity training benefit provided by RethinkCareFamily; the family solution gives you and your family 24/7 access to behavioural health support tools and resources to help parents or caregivers of children raise happy, healthy and resilient children
• Bridge the Gap is our parental transition programme which aims to support employees before, during and after the life‑changing milestone of becoming a parent
• Work‑life balance and flexibility is a key focus area; includes hybrid working; part‑time roles; flexible working hours including compressed hours (working full‑time hours over fewer days); annualised hours contract (working a defined number of hours over a year with an estimated average weekly hour pattern); possibility to take time off in lieu to ensure staff have time to rest and recuperate between busy periods

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer. As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.