Principal Ecologist

Job Title: Principal Ecologist

Ref. No.: CJD12025K

Location: Norwich

Salary: £43,000 - £53,000

This is an excellent opportunity to join my client, a large, highly-respected multidisciplinary consultancy, lending their expertise to a diverse range of projects across the ecological landscape. My client is seeking an experienced, passionate Principal Ecologist, willing to take on challenging projects alongside an expanding team of consultants, across the renewable energy, residential, commercial, and infrastructure landscapes, based in the culturally-vibrant, historical city of Norwich.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Flexible working opportunities, including Time off in Lieu (TOIL)
• A collaborative working environment, and access to a range of high-end projects
• Accredited professional training programmes
• Extensive career progression opportunities

Responsibilities

• Leading complex, high-profile projects across the ecology sector, to include renewable energy, residential, and commercial work across the East of England
• Authoring and peer-reviewing ecological reports, including Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA), and Environmental Statement (ES) Ecology Chapters
• Line managing, supporting, and mentoring colleagues within the Ecology Team
• Working collaboratively with other ecologists across a wide range of projects
• Engaging with clients and stakeholders, including Local Authorities and other public and private bodies
• Completing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Assessments, interpreting and evaluating the data across the Biodiversity Metric, delivering practical solutions to clientele
• Managing projects, including the preparation of fee proposals and tenders
• Ensuring projects are successfully completed within the agreed budgets and timeframes
• Designing and implementing Ecological Mitigation Strategies, including Mitigation Licences for a range of endangered species (chiefly bats, dormice, water voles, badgers, and great crested newts)

Qualifications

• Hold a Bachelor's/Master's Degree (or equivalent qualification) in Ecology or a similar, relevant discipline
• Have a full Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)
• Possess a minimum of one Protected Species Survey Licence
• Good working knowledge of the relevant planning systems/procedures and environmental legislation across the UK
• Competent and confident in working with UK Habitat Classification and Habitat Condition Assessments
• Experienced in designing and carrying out a number of ecology surveys, utilising findings to inform ecological assessments, delivering practical solutions to clientele
• Demonstrable experience in designing and delivering ecological mitigation, including Protected Species Licensing, and Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW)
• Excellent time management skills
• Outstanding communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
• Hold a full, valid UK driving licence (with Business Insurance), with a willingness to travel to various regional sites

Desirable skills

• Hold Protected Species Survey Licences for bats and great crested newts
• Possess a Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) Level 4
• Have a willingness to stay overnight at some sites across the East of England region

If you are interested in the role of Principal Ecologist, please do not hesitate to contact the Ecology Team at Penguin Recruitment. Please also see our website for a range of other roles currently available. This is a permanent role. Penguin Recruitment is operating as a recruitment agency in respect to this vacancy.