Senior​/Principal Ecologist

Location: Henfield

Reference: 4780915

Job d:
Closing date:

Location:

Brighton Salary: 35,000 - 55,000 DOE (per annum)
Job type:
Permanent Working pattern:
Full time / Flexible working

Industry: Engineering / Environment Company:
Hays Consultant:
Jack Brewin Hays office:
Leicester — 1st & 2nd Floor, 2 Colton Square Phone:
Email:
Jack.

Brewin Your New Company You will be joining an established, independent environmental consultancy with around 80–90 staff across five UK offices. Despite having multiple disciplines in-house—including heritage, landscape, master planning and urban design—the business maintains a genuinely small‑team culture, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, independence and high‑quality ecological input.

The coastal South‑East office is home to a friendly team of 10–12 ecologists, supported by expertise across the wider business. Known locally for delivering clear, pragmatic, proportionate advice, the team works on a diverse mix of planning‑led projects with long‑standing clients throughout Sussex, Surrey, Kent and parts of London.

The company has grown organically over more than 20 years and is committed to remaining independent. Several senior staff have been with the business for over a decade, contributing to strong continuity, supportive mentoring and genuine career progression opportunities.

Your New Role As a Senior or Principal Ecologist, you will take a lead role in delivering, coordinating and shaping ecological work across a broad project portfolio. You will influence project strategy, mentor junior colleagues, and play a key part in maintaining the team’s strong technical reputation. Your responsibilities will include:
Technical & Project Leadership:

Leading and overseeing ecological inputs across all project stages, providing strategic and proportionate direction.

Preparing, reviewing and signing off PEAs, EcIAs, HRAs, BNG assessments, habitat assessments and mitigation strategies.

Designing and overseeing protected species survey programmes, ensuring delivery quality and legislative compliance.

Leading or supporting EPS licence applications and associated mitigation.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement:

Acting as a key technical contact for clients, planning officers, and design teams.

Advising on ecological risks, opportunities and solutions at concept, design and planning stages.

Supporting proposals, fee quotes and wider business development activity.

Team Leadership & Mentoring:

Line managing or mentoring junior and consultant‑level ecologists.

Contributing to internal training, quality assurance and knowledge sharing.

Helping shape and strengthen team capability as the ecology function continues to grow.

Project Portfolio:

You will work across a varied mix of schemes, including:

Residential housing from 30–100 units to major 1,000–2,000 unit urban extensions

Strategic land promotion projects

Local authority work, including Brighton & Hove reserve sites

Commercial developments

Heritage‑led projects (in collaboration with teams in other offices)
Habitat banking, biodiversity enhancement & long‑term monitoring

Limited infrastructure work (some pipeline work; minimal road/rail, no HS2)
You’ll also contribute to the rollout of upgraded GIS workflows and digital data collection, supported by a specialist GIS consultant.

Travel: regional fieldwork across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and parts of London (generally within ~2 hours).What You’ll Need to Succeed Essential Degree in ecology/biology (1st or 2:1 preferred).Strong consultancy experience at a high Consultant, Senior or Principal level.

Proficient in designing, leading and quality‑checking ecological surveys and reports.

Strong understanding of wildlife legislation, planning policy and mitigation licensing.

Experience preparing or contributing significantly…