Senior Ecologist wide

Market Environmental

At Jacobs, we’re challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world’s most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Join Jacobs’ UK Ecology Team as an Ecologist and become part of a dynamic, forward‑thinking organisation that’s making a real impact—locally and globally.

We’re hiring nationwide, with opportunities available in our offices across Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Peterborough and Reading. Wherever you’re based, you’ll find a welcoming team and exciting projects waiting for you.

At Jacobs, we don’t just offer jobs—we build careers. You’ll be joining a respected and ambitious company with a strong reputation for excellence and innovation. Our commitment to your growth is backed by:

• Global Career Framework – chart your path with clarity and purpose
• Chartership Academy Programme – support to achieve professional accreditation
• Employee Networks & Communities of Practice – connect with over 200 ecologists in the UK & Ireland, and 600+ globally
• A culture of collaboration and sustainability – work on projects that matter

Whether you’re looking to lead groundbreaking ecological assessments or contribute to shaping environmental policy, Jacobs provides the platform to thrive.

Positions are available on a permanent full‑time and part‑time, job share or flexible basis.

In this role, you’ll bring technical insight, strategic thinking, and a commitment to high‑quality delivery;

• Delivering some of the most challenging, diverse and innovative infrastructure projects, including water, highway, rail and energy infrastructure for clients.
• A combination of desk and site‑based tasks.
• Using your experience in protected species survey, Ecological Clerk of Works, Environmental Impact Assessment, Habitats Regulations Assessment and/or Biodiversity Net Gain.
• Working in multidisciplinary teams – quickly building rapport and trust to ensure terrestrial ecology requirements are recognised and constraints acted upon.
• Designing ecological monitoring programmes, developing survey programmes, leading and/or managing survey teams, and ensuring high‑quality data collection.
• Enthusiastically leading from the front – being the first point of contact in the provision of expert advice to clients and stakeholders.
• Learning from and mentoring others – developing and sharing skills that build team and individual resilience, including engagement with global communities of practice, external communications and training events.
• Choosing a career pathway that suits your strengths – whether line management responsibilities or technical expertise, progression is supported in both routes.

• A background in terrestrial ecology with significant years of relevant industry experience.
• Full membership of a professional body (or experience to obtain full membership).
• Experience running ecological inputs on medium‑large scale projects.
• Outstanding written and verbal skills with good attention to detail.
• A high level of personal responsibility.

Ideally you’ll also have:

• Current and full driving licence.
• A technical specialism in terrestrial ecology. If you have broad ecological experience and can pick up other interests quickly, we’d love to hear from you.

Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and diversity. We put people at the heart of our business and truly believe that by supporting one another through a culture of caring we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

We embed inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We accept people for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, mental health, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. This is reflected in our wide range of Global Employee Networks centred on inclusion…