Principal Ecologist

Our client, a wildlife service has an exciting opportunity to join their successful team as a Principal Ecologist.

Principal Ecologist
Salary: £42,588 - £47,793
Contract type: Permanent
Working hours: Full time
Location:Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1RY

They are one of the leading ecological and arboricultural consultancies in Norfolk. They have built a reputation for delivering high quality, pragmatic, solution-oriented consultancy services with nature conservation at their core. Their clients include large commercial partners working on high profile projects, local authorities, smaller architectural and housing development firms as well as individual homeowners with smaller-scale requirements. All their profits are donated to their parent charity, for the benefit of nature conservation in Norfolk.

When you join them you will be joining a small, friendly and supportive team motivated to achieve the best they can for nature. The work is varied with plenty of opportunities for professional and personal development and a high degree of job satisfaction.

This role

Their focus is on providing high quality ecological and arboricultural expertise to ensure their client’s projects move forward while ensuring protection and benefits for nature and wildlife. Key elements of this role include:

• Leading and inspiring a team of ecologists and arboricultural consultants to ensure the delivery of high-quality work that meets their standards and client expectations.
• Helping drive business growth by fostering excellent client relations, securing new contracts, and expanding their client base.
• Providing high-level oversight on a diverse portfolio of projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards. Lead complex ecological assessments and mitigation strategies.
• Providing clear, values-based team leadership as a key member of the Operational Leadership Team.
• Ensuring all projects comply with current legislation and best practice guidelines, upholding the reputation of the service through rigorous quality control.
• Identifying new work streams and commercial opportunities to help nature’s recovery, including supporting the development of a new, integrated advisory offer.

About You

They are looking for someone with a degree in ecology or its equivalent and membership of CIEEM. In addition, you will hold relevant protected species licenses (levels 1 and 2 for bats) and ideally be eligible as the Named Ecologist on mitigation licenses within the past three years

With five years’ experience as a Senior Ecologist or Principal Ecologist you will have:

• Extensive experience of habitat and protected species surveys and writing habitat management plans.
• Knowledge and experience of Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA), Preliminary Ecological Assessment (PEA), BNG assessments along with experience of working with the planning and development of infrastructure, construction and green infrastructure projects.
• Sound knowledge of UK and EU wildlife legislation and policy.
• Experience of leading, managing, motivating and monitoring the performance of individuals and teams.
• Experience of complex work programmes and budgets management.
• Excellent written skills and the ability to write clear and concise technical reports and constructively review reports written by others.
• A valid UK driving licence and access to own transport with business insurance use.

In return they can offer you a competitive salary and generous pension contribution as well as other personal benefits including comprehensive sick pay, life insurance, a commitment to ongoing professional development and staff discounts.

They are happy to discuss part-time or flexible working and how they can support your responsibilities outside of work.

Closing date: Friday 31 January 2025

They are reviewing applications as they come in and inviting candidates for interview on a rolling basis. There is no set deadline at this time.

Thank you for your interest in working with this wildlife service, good luck with your application!

Interested?

To apply, please click the apply button. You will be taken to a simple CHM Recruit form where you can find out more information and complete your application by following the instructions.

No agencies please.