Principal - Associate Ecologist

Job Description

Our client is a major UK utility and infrastructure operator responsible for managing and maintaining an extensive network that serves millions of customers. The organisation is committed to delivering essential services safely and sustainably while balancing operational requirements with environmental protection and biodiversity enhancement. As part of its continued investment in infrastructure and environmental performance, it is seeking an experienced ecology professional to support compliance, habitat management and ecological best practice across a diverse portfolio of projects and assets.

You will provide in-house ecological / arboricultural expertise across a diverse capital programme. You will identify environmental risks and constraints at an early stage, advise on mitigation requirements and support the successful delivery of projects across a variety of environments. You'll join its Capital Delivery team on a 24-month fixed-term contract initially - with a view to potentially transitioning into a permanent role.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Providing ecological input throughout project design, planning and construction phases
• Undertaking and coordinating ecological surveys, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs) and protected species surveys where appropriately qualified
• Producing technical reports and outputs including PEAs, Ecological Constraints Plans, method statements and RAMS
• Supporting biodiversity enhancement initiatives and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) delivery
• Providing Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) support on site
• Advising on ecological legislation, mitigation requirements and project risks
• Supporting planning applications and discharge of ecological conditions
• Working closely with contractors, regulators and internal stakeholders to ensure ecological requirements are understood and implemented effectively
• Contributing to habitat creation, enhancement and management planning associated with infrastructure projects

• A degree in Ecology, Environmental Science or a related discipline
• Experience delivering ecological support on infrastructure, utilities or capital delivery projects
• Arboricultural survey / mitigation / consulting experience
• Good working knowledge of UK wildlife legislation and ecological best practice guidance
• Experience undertaking PEAs and supporting Biodiversity Net Gain assessments
• Strong technical reporting skills
• Experience providing Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) support
• Membership of CIEEM, or working towards professional membership
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to project sites as required

• Protected species survey licences
• GIS mapping and ecological data analysis experience
• Experience supporting BNG calculations and habitat enhancement projects

• £52,107 rising to £59,558
• 24-month Fixed Term Contract, with a view to a permanent role
• Pension: 5% employee, 10% employer, totalling 15%
• 14 x salary Life Insurance linked to membership of the Retirement Savings Plan
• Retail discounts and cashback scheme
• Friends & Family Discount for Three Mobile and Broadband
• Annual salary review
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Opportunity to work on a high-profile infrastructure programme
• Exposure to a wide range of ecological and environmental challenges
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
• Supportive and collaborative working environment
• Excellent opportunity to develop your ecological and project delivery expertise within a large-scale organisation