Ecology Consultant

Company Description

Assystem is an international engineering and digital services group specialising in low-carbon energy, infrastructure, and complex systems. In the UK, we support some of the country’s most technically demanding and nationally significant projects across nuclear, transport, renewables, defence, and major infrastructure.

Our Ecology team plays a critical role in enabling safe, compliant, and sustainable project delivery—working alongside clients, designers, and contractors to manage ecological risk throughout the construction lifecycle.

Job Description

We are recruiting an Ecology Consultant to support a large-scale infrastructure construction project.

This role offers the opportunity to be embedded within the project team, providing consistent, high-quality ecological support throughout the construction phase.

Working closely with our client, principal contractor, and Assystem’s wider environmental and engineering teams, you will work within our on site team, supporting compliance with ecological legislation, licence conditions, and agreed mitigation measures.

This role is suitable for an Assistant or Consultant Ecologist seeking to develop their experience in a major infrastructure delivery environment.

You will be responsible for assessing, managing, and monitoring ecological constraints across the construction site, providing clear and pragmatic advice to support safe and compliant delivery.

Key responsibilities include:

Undertaking ecological surveys and site checks prior to and during site clearance, including for protected and notable species
Monitoring construction activities to ensure compliance with ecological legislation, licence conditions, and mitigation requirements
Providing clear, practical ecological advice to site teams, subcontractors, and project management
Acting as the on-site ecological focal point, supporting day-to-day decision-making
Investigating, recording, and reporting ecological incidents, and supporting the implementation of corrective actions
Delivering proactive ecological risk management to minimise programme and environmental impacts
Preparing and delivering ecological toolbox talks and providing regular site-based ecological briefings
Attending ECoW, construction, and site coordination meetings to maintain awareness of the works programme and ecological constraints
Undertaking ecological walkovers, site inspections, and watching briefs as required
Analysing ecological data and producing concise weekly reports for the client and Assystem internal teams
Liaising closely with the client’s environment, sustainability, and construction teams
Promoting a culture of continual improvement in on-site ecological practice through solution-focused support

Qualifications

You will be a proactive ecologist with a strong interest in construction-phase ecology and experience working on live sites or within regulated environments.

Typical requirements include:

A degree (or higher) in Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related discipline
Experience in ecological surveys and/or Ecological Clerk of Works support
Good working knowledge of UK wildlife legislation and construction-phase mitigation
Confidence engaging with contractors, site operatives, and project managers
Strong communication and reporting skills
A pragmatic, solution-focused approach to managing ecological risk
Willingness to work predominantly on site for the duration of the project

Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. CIEEM) and experience undertaking watching briefs or protected species mitigation would be advantageous.

Additional Information

Pension scheme (8% company contribution / 4% personal contribution)
25 days’ paid annual leave + bank holidays + option to buy or sell days
Professional fees reimbursed
Employee referral scheme

We are committed to equal treatment of candidates and promote, as well as foster all forms of diversity within our company. We believe that bringing together people with different backgrounds and perspectives is essential for creating innovative and impactful solutions. Skills, talent, and our people’s ability to dare are the only things that matter !. Bring your unique contributions and help us shape the future