Senior / Principal Ecologist

Arup; York and North Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An environmental consultancy in the UK is seeking a Senior / Principal Ecologist. The role involves preparing reports and advising on biodiversity enhancements. Candidates should have a relevant degree, experience in ecological consultancy, and familiarity with tools like ArcGIS. The position offers a strong reward package and promotes a diverse work culture.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Flexible benefits

Profit sharing

Life assurance

Income protection

Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in a relevant subject.
• Postgraduate qualification in Ecological Consultancy is advantageous.
• Membership of CIEEM or equivalent and working towards Chartership is preferred.
• A full driving licence is essential.

Responsibilities

• Preparation of reports including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA).
• Advising on restoration and enhancement of habitats.
• Experience with BNG and natural capital studies.
• Field survey work including protected species surveys.
• Mentoring junior staff to develop their careers.

Skills

Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA)

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)

Field survey work

Client-facing experience

ArcGIS

Education

Bachelor's degree in Ecology, Zoology, Geography or Biology

Postgraduate qualification in Ecological Consultancy

Membership of CIEEM

Tools

ArcGIS

Digital tools

Job description

Join to apply for the Senior / Principal Ecologist role at Arup.

We are currently looking to recruit Senior / Principal Ecologists on a permanent contract into a range of offices including York, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh. You will work as part of a team of ecologists within Arup’s North geography (northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Projects can vary greatly in nature and duration, including renewable energy, water industry, transport and data centre projects.

Role and responsibilities

• Preparation of clear and concise reports, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA), species survey reports, Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Habitats Regulations Appraisals (HRA) and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments.
• Advising on restoration/enhancement of habitats, biodiversity design and integration of green infrastructure and other nature-based solutions to secure biodiversity gain and strengthen climate change resilience measures.
• Experience with BNG and other metrics (e.g. Building with Nature), natural capital/environmental net gain studies, site and corporate biodiversity strategies, TNFD, IFC Performance Standard 6, and related policies is beneficial due to varied workloads.
• Specialism in a topic (e.g., ornithology, HRA, BNG, aquatic ecology) is advantageous.
• Field survey work (e.g., Phase 1 Habitat/UKHab surveys, condition scoring for BNG, invasive species) and protected species surveys (e.g., bats, otter, badger) with licences as applicable.
• Mentoring more junior staff to help them develop their careers.
• Collaborate with teams to deliver high-quality ecological inputs across projects.

Qualifications and experience

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject, such as Ecology, Zoology, Geography or Biology (or equivalent).
• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g., MSc in Ecological Consultancy) is advantageous but not essential.
• Membership of CIEEM or equivalent and working towards Chartership.
• A full driving licence is essential.
• Experience of working in the consulting industry with a broad range of ecological experience; client-facing experience.
• Experience using ArcGIS and digital tools to deliver efficiency and innovation.

What we offer

We offer an attractive total reward package and a culture that supports health and wellbeing, learning opportunities and opportunities to contribute to meaningful client and community outcomes. Profit Sharing is a key part of our reward.

We provide Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection, plus flexible benefits to suit you and your family.

Diversity and inclusion

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and we are committed to accessibility in recruitment and the workplace. If you need any adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact Karin Spies at [e-mail].

Our commitment to recruitment process

To understand what to expect next, please visit: https://www.arup.com/careers/recruitment-process/

Stay safe online – Arup will never ask for your bank details as part of our recruitment process.

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