Senior Ecologist

MKO Advisors, LLC; Galway; On-site; EUR 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Ireland is seeking an experienced Ecologist to lead complex ecological projects across terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments. The role involves scoping surveys, EcIA, Natura statements, and management plans, with delivering high-quality final reports for planning and regulatory processes.

The candidate will review technical outputs, oversee QA, manage budgets, and mentor junior ecologists while balancing a busy workload and client expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher in ecology or related science.
• 8+ years post-graduate experience in ecological consultancy or similar.
• Experience across large-scale projects in key sectors.
• Strong understanding of EU Habitats and EIA Directives in project context.
• Excellent report writing and quality assurance skills.
• Commercial awareness with budget and profitability experience.
• Confident client-facing and strategic advisory abilities.
• Proven ability to manage a busy ecological workload.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of complex ecological projects from inception to completion.
• Scoping, planning and undertaking EcIA, Natura statements, and plans.
• Prepare high-quality final reports for planning, consent, regulatory needs.
• Perform technical reviews and QA of internal and 3rd-party inputs.
• Manage multiple projects, allocate work and balance capacity.
• Build and maintain long-term client and stakeholder relationships.
• Manage project budgets and profitability.
• Review ecological outputs produced by team members.
• Provide guidance, mentoring and support to junior ecologists.
• Balance workload, resources and deadlines across the team.

Skills

Project management

Client facing

Budget management

Team leadership

Report writing

Mentoring

Education

Third-level qualification in ecology or related discipline

Job description

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of complex ecological projects across terrestrial, freshwater and/or marine environments from inception to completion.
• Scoping, planning and undertaking ecological surveys, Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Natura Impact Statements, management plans and related technical outputs.
• Delivering high‑quality final project reports and submissions, suitable for planning, consent and regulatory processes.
• Conduct detailed technical review, quality control and sign‑off of internal work and third‑party inputs.
• Manage a high volume of projects concurrently, allocating work and balancing team capacity effectively.
• Building and maintaining strong, long‑term relationships with clients and project stakeholders.
• Managing project budgets.
• Reviewing ecological outputs prepared by other team members.
• Providing guidance, mentoring and technical support to junior ecologists.
• Managing a varied and busy workload while balancing client expectations, available resources and project deadlines.

Requirements

• A third‑level qualification in ecology, botany, natural sciences, or other related disciplines.
• A minimum of 8 years of post‑graduate experience in fulfilling similar functions, ideally in a similar consultancy role.
• A broad range of ecological experience on large‑scale projects in key sectors.
• An excellent understanding of the EU Habitats and EIA Directives insofar as they relate to project‑based ecological impact assessments being undertaken by an ecological consultancy.
• Excellent report writing, technical review and quality assurance skills.
• Strong commercial awareness, with demonstrable experience managing budgets and project profitability.
• Confident client‑facing skills, with experience providing strategic advice.
• Demonstrable ability to manage the busy and varied ecological workload of a team of ecologists.
• Full driving licence.
• Desirable Full Member of CIEEM (or a relevant professional body) or working towards the same.
• Experience acting as an expert witness or providing specialist input at oral hearings.