Associate Ecologist

Job Description

If you're an experienced consultant ecologist ready to step into an Associate role where you can lead, influence, mentor and make a real impact, this could be the perfect next step.

Our Ecology team is friendly, collaborative, and built on shared expertise. You'll work alongside specialists in habitats, protected species, biodiversity, water, planning, and more meaning you'll gain exposure to a wide range of projects and disciplines.

What you can expect:

• A supportive culture with training, mentoring, and clear progression
• Access to industry-leading specialists across the UK
• Opportunities to help shape best practice in UK ecology
• A workplace where wellbeing and safety always come first

As an Associate Ecologist, you will play a key role in both project delivery and team leadership, including:

• Championing our Health, Safety & Wellbeing culture and helping create a safe, positive working environment.
• Working closely with your team, the Regional Director, and Team Leader to manage workload and uphold high technical standards.
• Generating new opportunities and preparing tenders, while overseeing the delivery of ecological work streams technical, commercial, and financial.
• Providing both site and office support, helping to guide and mentor junior colleagues as they develop their skills.
• Contributing to a supportive, enthusiastic, and high‑performing team environment.

You will thrive in this role if you have:

• Experience working across a range of UK habitats and protected species, with survey and/or mitigation licences (current or held previously).
• A proven track record of supporting clients from devising survey programmes and designing pragmatic, cost‑effective mitigation, to gaining regulatory support and supervising implementation on‑site.
• Experience delivering Ecological Impact Assessments and writing robust ES chapters.
• Knowledge and experience of Habitats Regulations Assessment.
• Demonstrable success in winning work, particularly with commercial clients in residential, mixed‑use, and industrial sectors.
• A passion for supporting and developing ecologists of all grades through mentorship and leadership.

When you join us, you'll gain:

• A clear pathway to progress your ecological consultancy career
• The freedom to shape your own development
• Exposure to major UK and international projects
• A workplace that truly values diversity, collaboration, and wellbeing

At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It's important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community. Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging  have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote our culture of inclusivity.

We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most.

We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

To enhance work‑life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also…