Senior Ecologist

Senior Ecologist – Overview

We are looking for a Senior Ecologist to join our expanding Nature and Biodiversity team. In this role, you will be part of a small team with a key influence on a wide variety of diverse and interesting projects across the UK — from urban renewal and regeneration schemes to helping local authorities integrate nature‑based solutions for climate adaptation and resilience into their planning frameworks.

Based from any of our UK offices with hybrid working arrangements, you will normally not be required to undertake surveys outside normal office hours or work on large‑scale infrastructure projects. Instead, you will be a key member of a multidisciplinary project team, able to influence the integration of biodiversity into urban regeneration projects and wider sustainability and climate resilience strategies.

This is an opportunity to work with a dedicated and passionate team in a bespoke organisation that values innovation and real outcomes that make a difference. The Nature and Biodiversity team forms an integral part of the business and helps shape entire projects by being involved at the outset, determining biodiversity priorities, and weaving best practice and net gain into their fabric.

Our focus on strategic‑level projects results in a highly varied and interesting workload.

• Carrying out site walkovers to identify ecological constraints and opportunities on projects.
• Preparing, and/or managing others to prepare ecological reports and biodiversity net gain assessments.
• Project management, including resource planning and managing budgets effectively.
• Managing and mentoring more junior team members.
• Advising on biodiversity restoration/enhancement and integration of green infrastructure and other nature‑based solutions to secure biodiversity gain and strengthen climate change resilience measures.
• Attending workshops/meetings and sharing ideas with design teams.
• Developing and costing proposals and providing input into marketing materials.

• Experience of undertaking UK Habitat surveys and condition assessments.
• Experience of producing and reviewing ecology reports, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Ecological Impact Assessments, Ecology Chapters for Environmental Impact Assessments, Construction and Ecological Management Plans, and Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans.
• Experience of the application of Biodiversity Net Gain, including completion and review of the Statutory Biodiversity Metric.
• The ability to manage projects proactively to ensure that clients are informed of any issues and potential solutions early in the planning process.
• Good report‑writing skills and attention to detail.
• Good client‑facing skills and the ability to effectively communicate ideas verbally.
• An interest in, or experience with, mentoring more junior staff to help them develop their own careers.
• Commitment to advising on best practice across all projects and keeping up‑to‑date with relevant ecological legislation and policy guidance.
• Being an Associate or Full member of CIEEM or similar.
• Having a positive, solutions‑focused and collaborative approach to working within the team, encouraging independent thinking, innovation and a supportive working environment.

• Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum, exclusive of Bank Holidays.
• Hybrid working arrangements.
• Private Medical Health.
• Company Pension Scheme.
• Life Assurance.
• Income Protection.
• Flexible benefits – including Cycle scheme, Dental insurance, Optical cover, Travel insurance and corporate discounts.
• Early leaving at the end of the month – Buro Happold actively encourages its employees to finish at 3 pm on the last Friday of each month (depending on business demands). These hours can equate to an additional 4 days leave per annum.

Buro Happold values an individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of how you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those seeking flexibility in their careers.

Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds, and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key – we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.

We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment and are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. Embracing differences allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.

Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact  so we can support you throughout your application.