Description
We are currently looking for a Principal Ecologist to join our growing Nature Services team. You'll work alongside a supportive network of technical specialists on a rich variety of projects across Scotland and Ireland.
As a Principal Ecologist, you will:
- Embrace our Health, Safety and Wellbeing culture and create a safe place for all to work.
- Provide motivational leadership and line management for team members at various grades including overseeing workload planning and forecasting, whilst guiding and supporting professional development.
- Support the Team Lead/Deputy Team Lead with day-to-day project resourcing and through proactively contributing to effective team management in areas such as health and safety, technical training, recruitment, and chairing of meetings.
- Plan and undertake ecology surveys including Phase 1/ UKHab habitat surveys and protected species surveys.
- Prepare and review tenders and a range of ecological deliverables including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Ecological Impact Assessments, Protected Species Reports, Habitats Regulations Appraisals, technical reports and mitigation licence applications.
- Undertake client liaison and project management.
- Conduct consultation and negotiation with regulators and stakeholders.
- Mentor junior team members whilst helping to nurture an enthusiastic, supportive, and productive working environment.
- Build and maintain a visible internal and external profile as a technical expert and collaborative leader.
- Participate in weekly and monthly Nature Services team meetings and national initiatives.
- Deepen your technical expertise and pursue professional development supported by colleagues and through formal training.
- Harness your potential to develop specific skillsets and share technical knowledge and opportunities for learning and innovations with colleagues.
What We're Looking For
- A relevant academic qualification in ecology or a related subject.
- Full membership of CIEEM (ideally working towards full chartership) or eligible to apply.
- Proven relevant experience of motivating and leading others, including supporting team development and managing project workloads.
- Advanced technical knowledge and competency in designing, planning and undertaking ecology desk-based and field-based surveys within the UK.
- Ability to produce and review high quality, technically and scientifically robust ecological reports and other project deliverables.
- Proven relevant experience gained within a professional consultancy, regulatory and/or industrial role(s) with strong communication and organisation skills.
- Proven relevant experience of project and budget management, preparing proposals and client engagement, including ability to demonstrate effective time management and delivery across multiple projects would be an advantage.
- Advanced technical knowledge and competency of relevant ecology policy and guidance (particularly within Scotland), including excellent attention to detail in analysis and interpretation of ecological data would be an advantage.
- A technical specialism or hold (or have held) protected species survey and/or mitigation licences would be an advantage.
- A desire to develop your core ecological and consultancy skills and be supported by a team of ecologists and other environmental professionals.