Ecologist​/Senior Ecologist

Overview

At Atkins

Réalis, our team of ecologists work throughout the UK to deliver a diverse range of challenging and exciting projects that benefit our clients, biodiversity and society. As we grow and expand our portfolio across Scotland, supporting an increasing pipeline of projects and clients spanning all areas of infrastructure development and upgrade, we are seeking an enthusiastic Ecologist to join our established Scottish ecology team.

This role will support our clients, contribute to the development of new approaches to our work, and offer the opportunity to develop a career across all aspects of project delivery, working on projects that shape Scotland's infrastructure and natural environment. Although you will be aligned to our Glasgow office, all locations will be considered. Joining us, you will have the opportunity to contribute to nationally significant and high‑profile projects, with many of our projects winning awards for biodiversity enhancements, innovation, and knowledge sharing.

Our ecology team have previously been awarded CIEEM Large‑Scale Consultancy of the Year Award and been highly commended over a number of years. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria.

• Providing ecological input to a varied range of projects across different sectors, including leading on infrastructure projects, managing project programmes and budgets.
• Undertaking the role of Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) on large and significant design and build projects covering a range of ecological constraints, providing tool‑box talks, monitoring compliance with planning conditions, protected species licences and method statements.
• Planning, coordinating and undertaking field surveys; analysing and interpreting survey results.
• Collaborating with our multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Designing and coordinating ecological mitigation.
• Authoring and checking a range of ecological reports and licence applications.
• Managing work enquiries, preparing bids and building client relationships.
• Candidate will actively identify, raise, manage and mitigate risks, particularly within a Project/Framework environment.
• Candidate will proactively provide innovation on projects and within the ecology team.

• A degree in ecology or life sciences or closely related field.
• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), or equivalent. Atkins
  
  Réalis to cover membership costs.
• Strong understanding of UK wildlife legislation.
• Strong protected species survey/field identification skills, including demonstrable competency to capable level in line with CIEEM's Competency Framework to lead protected species surveys is essential.
• Ideally Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) Level 3, or above, or be able to demonstrate that skills are equivalent to this.
• Experience of implementing and monitoring ecological mitigation on site, during construction (e.g. translocations, watching briefs, exclusion zones, habitat protection measures).
• Ability to act as a first point of contact for contractors and advise on ecological risk during construction and deliver practical and proportionate mitigation solutions in line with nature conservation legislation.
• Strong skills in report writing and record keeping, including preparing Preliminary Ecological Assessments, Ecological Impact Assessments, site visit reports and compliance audit trails.
• Protected species survey licence(s) are desirable but not essential, a Nature Scot bat‑licenced ecologist is particularly desirable. Demonstrable experience of working under protected species licences for development either as the ecologist overseeing the works or operating under the instruction of named licence holder is beneficial.
• Strong collaborative behaviours to interface with multi‑disciplinary teams, market teams, and other stakeholders.
• An understanding of requirement for biodiversity enhancements in line with National Planning Framework 4, and able to…