Senior​/Principal Ecologist Ornithology Specialism

Job Description
Overview

At AtkinsRéalis, our team of ecologists work throughout the UK to deliver a diverse range of challenging and exciting projects that benefit our clients, biodiversity and society.

As we grow and expand our portfolio across Scotland, supporting an increasing pipeline of projects and clients spanning all areas of infrastructure development and upgrade, we are seeking an enthusiastic Senior/Principal Ecologist to join our established Scottish ecology team. This role will support our clients, contribute to the development of new approaches to our work, and offer the opportunity to develop a career across all aspects of project delivery, working on projects that shape Scotland’s infrastructure and natural environment.

Although you will be aligned to our Glasgow office, all locations will be considered.

Joining us, you will have the opportunity to contribute to nationally significant and high‑profile projects, with many of our projects winning awards for biodiversity enhancements, innovation, and knowledge sharing. Our ecology team have previously been awarded CIEEM Large-Scale Consultancy of the Year Award and been highly commended over a number of years.

At AtkinsRéalis, we want everyone to feel that they belong, and we work hard to make sure. Flexible working is a core part of our culture and we appreciate that different people have different priorities. We recognise that a healthy work/life balance is integral to wellbeing and we are extremely supportive of individual requirements for flexible and remote working.

• Client facing/client interaction – The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of clients’ requirements.
• Supporting on nationally important infrastructure projects, managing project programmes and budgets.
• Planning and undertaking field surveys; analysing and interpreting survey results.
• Designing and co‑ordinating ecological mitigation.
• Authoring and checking a range of ecological reports and licence applications.
• Interdisciplinary engagement – the candidate will actively seek to engage with other areas of the business, seeking opportunities to cross sell and leverage AtkinsRéalis’ capabilities, preparing bids, supporting on strategic opportunities, building client relationships (internal and external) and driving work‑winning in the region.
• Candidate will proactively provide innovation on projects and within the ecology team.
• Candidate may coach, mentor and support other staff members in their development.
• This role will have tailored mentoring and support towards achieving career goals, such as Chartership.
• Appropriate training courses external and internal will be reviewed with your mentor and Practice Manager.

• Skilled ornithological surveyor including demonstrable competency and proven experience to capable level in line with CIEEM’s Competency Framework to lead bird surveys.
• Range of experience across surveys for both assemblage and species‑specific surveys with a focus on Scottish/upland species desirable.
• Experience in survey design and data interpretation for multi‑season ornithological surveys. Experience of territory and collision risk analysis is desirable.
• The experience and ability to hold or have held Schedule 1 survey licences is strongly desirable. Demonstrable experience of working as an assistant or agent on a Schedule 1 licence will also be looked upon favourably.
• Ability and willingness to coordinate and lead other protected species surveys and production of deliverables in line with relevant good practice guidance.
• Full Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), or actively working towards this.
• Strong skills in report writing, including preparing Preliminary Ecological Assessments, Ecological Impact Assessments, Biodiversity Chapters for Ecological Impact Assessments and Habitats Regulations Assessment (including Appropriate Assessment) and Protected species survey licence(s).
• Strong working knowledge and experience of UK Habitat survey, habitat condition assessments, and the Defra Biodiversity Metric.
• Ideally project management experience including technical, financial and quality assurance…