Bat Ecologists

Bat Ecologists – Licenced Bat Ecologists and Bat Earned Recognition (BER) Level 1-3 Registered Consultant SLR is seeking multiple licenced bat ecologists (Natural England Class 2 and above) with proven experience in securing mitigation licences. We particularly welcome applications from Bat Earned Recognition registered consultants (Level 1 –
3) or eligible to be BER accredited agents or for individuals looking to become a BER registered consultants to join our expanding Ecology and Biodiversity team in the UK. Opportunities are available across multiple grades. The role can be located across any of our office locations in England or remote. You will work on a diverse portfolio of projects and sectors, particularly including Power, Mining and Minerals and Built Environment delivering high-quality bat surveys, mitigation strategies and technical reporting.

This role presents an exciting opportunity to be responsible for the delivery of ecology inputs to large and complex projects, which now represent an increasingly large proportion of our work.  While the advert focuses on bat expertise, we do not pigeonhole our ecologists. If you hold additional ecological skills, whether in other protected species, botany, ornithology, etc – we actively encourage you to continue developing and utilising those competencies and we will ensure the range of work and training available to you enables you to do so.

The role:

Duties will be varied but will include:

Undertake a range of bat surveys including Daytime Bat Walkover, Daytime Preliminary Roost Assessments (PRA), dusk emergence and rarely dawn return surveys, backtracking surveys, hibernation surveys, Ground Level Tree Assessment (GLTA) and use of advanced bat survey techniques including trapping and radio tracking.

Record and manage survey data to a high professional standard using our top of the range survey equipment and technology, utilising our dedicated in-house data recording apps and automation software and processes and working closely with the digital team to maximise efficiencies in automation where possible.

Completing BER site registrations, EPSL licensing and mitigation works

Accurately analyse bat data in a timely manner and it would be advantageous to hold Certificate of Bat Acoustics Analysis Supervising mitigation works and implementing method statements

Contribute to technical reports, contributing to BER site registrations preparing and leading on European Protected Species Licences (EPSL) and designing and overseeing bat mitigation and compensation strategies for a range of bat species including hibernation and maternity roosts across a range of sites including linear infrastructure projects, complex structures, major power projects and renewable energy projects.

Rewards & Benefits SLR's ‘One Team’ culture is at the heart of our business, providing a collaborative and supportive environment where people can develop and grow. Through a structured career framework, regular performance reviews, and support towards chartership, professional qualifications and licences, we offer excellent opportunities for long-term career progression. Our flexible benefits and reward package includes:

Competitive salary with discretionary bonus

Company pension

Private medical insurance

Life, income, and travel insurance

Salary sacrifice car lease and cycle‑to‑work schemes

Volunteering and Community Giving Flexible, hybrid and agile working
25 days’ annual leave plus flexible public holidays

Buy or sell leave options

Core working hours

Cross‑border remote working and sabbatical opportunities

Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave pay Workplace Nursery benefit Employee Assistance Programme Specialist support for mental health, stress and menopause - supporting our people both professionally and personally

About you:

You will have demonstrable experience in bat surveys, licensing, mitigation and supervision (but we welcome experience across a range of different areas of ecological consultancy practice). You should hold a Natural England Class 2 bat licence or above and be able to demonstrate competence in bat survey and mitigation and ideally be a Bat Earned…