Principal​/Associate Director Ecology

Overview

The Vacancy

Binnies are recruiting for an experienced ecology professional at Principal to Associate Director level within our growing Ecology team (a CIEEM Registered Practice) to provide a key role in our ecological assessment, nature-based solutions and ecological restoration work areas. We have a strong focus on high quality survey and assessment combined with biodiversity enhancement and restoration across our portfolio of work at all scales and sectors including flood, coastal and maritime, water utilities, transport and renewable power.

This key role would also support our growing portfolio of work in England and Wales.

You would be a key part of our national Environmental team and work with our ecologists, landscape architects, project managers and other specialists to drive the quality of our designs and assessments. You would take on high profile ecological assessment advice roles in large scale Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, as well as supporting the growth and development of a range of smaller-scale habitat creation and restoration opportunities, from pilot projects through to on-the-ground delivery.

We are already developing new approaches through our Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), GIS and Digital Ecology specialists to optimise the use of technology in collecting data and this role would have the benefit of being supported by the outputs of these exciting work areas.

Depending on your skill sets and interest there would also be the opportunity to undertake wider ecological assessment, design and survey work.

You would be welcome in one of our offices and preferably in the South of the UK (Redhill, Bradford on Avon/Bristol) with hybrid working options available around those locations.

Binnies is an Ecological Registered Practice (CIEEM) and Landscape Practice (Landscape Institute) and holds the IEMA EIA Quality Mark, which is a benchmark of our high standards in EIA delivery.

• Taking a leading position in the Ecology team for the South East or South West England & South Wales for technical oversight and development for Ecology within the Environment Team.
• Supporting new emerging work in the Binnies portfolio including habitat restoration, wetland creation, habitat creation and building connections to Binnies specialist staff.
• Providing technical specialist input to Project-level Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), including on larger projects, including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (opportunities to engage in strategic planning advice can be supported within the role).
• Working with our dedicated Nature Recovery and BNG specialist team members to integrate ‘BNG+’ approaches to land management advice, habitat banking and wider landscape design into project outcomes.
• Providing support and advice on design of habitat restoration/creation schemes to maximise biodiversity outcomes on projects and strategies.
• Supporting business development and tenders.
• Working with our GIS and Digital specialists to maximise use of technology to optimise assessments, surveys and monitoring programmes.

• have an ecological/environmental related degree;
• be Chartered, or currently eligible for Chartership;
• have experience of leading specialist teams or project delivery of ecological designs and/or assessments;
• have proven experience in leading ecological assessments on major projects (ideally NSIPs) covering EIA and/or HRA;
• have experience of working with Biodiversity Net Gain and landowner considerations;
• have experience of working with a range of regulators and stakeholders to improve the ecological outcomes of projects;
• have excellent written and oral communication;
• enjoy innovation and embracing advances in technology and ecology;
• hold a full UK driving licence.

• wider environmental impact assessment and consenting experience (multi-discipline);
• contribution to natural capital and ecosystem services assessments;
• line management;
• previous consultancy experience.

We develop intelligent solutions using our award-winning integrated planning and design approach to deliver…