Ecologist​/Senior Ecologist

Job Description Overview

At Atkins

Réalis, our team of ecologists works throughout the UK to deliver a diverse range of challenging and exciting projects that benefit our clients, biodiversity and society. We are seeking an enthusiastic Ecologist to join our established Scottish ecology team, supporting clients, developing new approaches and advancing a career across all aspects of project delivery.

• Provide ecological input to a varied range of projects across different sectors, including leading on infrastructure projects, managing project programmes and budgets.
• Act as Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) on large and significant design and build projects covering a range of ecological constraints, providing toolbox talks, monitoring compliance with planning conditions, protected species licences and method statements.
• Plan, coordinate and undertake field surveys; analyse and interpret survey results.
• Collaborate with multi‑disciplinary teams; design and coordinate ecological mitigation.
• Author and check a range of ecological reports and licence applications.
• Manage work enquiries, prepare bids and build client relationships.
• Actively identify, raise, manage and mitigate risks within a Project/Framework environment.
• Proactively provide innovation on projects and within the ecology team.

• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, life sciences or a closely related field.
• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) or equivalent;
  Atkins
  
  Réalis covers membership costs.
• Strong understanding of UK wildlife legislation.
• Strong protected species survey/field identification skills, with demonstrable competency to capable level in line with CIEEM’s Competency Framework to lead protected species surveys.
• Ideally Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) Level 3 or above, or equivalent demonstrable skills.
• Experience implementing and monitoring ecological mitigation on site during construction (e.g. translocations, watching briefs, exclusion zones, habitat protection measures).
• Ability to act as first point of contact for contractors, advise on ecological risk during construction and deliver practical mitigation solutions in line with nature conservation legislation.
• Strong report‑writing and record‑keeping skills, including preparing Preliminary Ecological Assessments, Ecological Impact Assessments, site visit reports and compliance audit trails.
• Protected species survey licence(s) desirable; a Nature Scot bat‑licenced ecologist particularly desirable.
• Demonstrable experience working under protected species licences for development either as the ecologist overseeing the works or under the instruction of the named licence holder.
• Strong collaborative behaviours to interface with multi‑disciplinary teams, market teams and other stakeholders.
• Understanding of biodiversity enhancements in line with National Planning Framework 4 and ability to distinguish and determine between enhancements and compensation, advising on construction of these elements and programme timing.
• Willingness and ability to travel to sites across Scotland and hold a full UK/EEC driving licence.

• Competitive salaries.
• Employee rewards and a range of tailored benefits.
• Opportunities for training and professional development.
• Hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances.

We are fully committed to promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and work hard to make everyone feel respected, empowered and able to realise their full potential. Flexible working is a core part of our culture, supporting individual requirements for remote working and a healthy work‑life balance. We offer a range of family‑friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups.

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer.