Senior Ecologist | Conwy

Overview

We are looking for a commercially minded and client-focused Senior Ecologist to join our growing consultancy team. In this role, you will lead ecological projects from inception to completion, balancing rigorous fieldwork with high-quality project management. You will act as a key point of contact for our clients, providing expert advice, managing budgets, and ensuring projects are delivered smoothly and to the highest standard. We are a small, professional, tight knit team.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

Project Management & Client Liaison

· Leading Projects: Overseeing all stages of ecological projects from fee proposals to project completion, ensuring high-quality, on-time delivery.

· Client Communication: Acting as the primary point of contact for all projects overseen, providing specialist advice, building client relationships and managing client expectations.

· Bids and Tenders: Writing fee proposals, tenders, scopes of work to secure new contracts alongside senior staff.

· Budgeting: Managing and monitoring project budgets ensuring projects are delivered as per client agreements while ensuring company profitability.

Technical Expertise and Report Writing

· Survey Design & Scope of Works: Preparing detailed scope of works and survey design tailored to the relevant project requirements and client needs. Ensuring surveys are designed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and legislative requirements.

· Reporting: Producing and reviewing a variety of ecological reports, to include; Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Ecological Impact Assessments, Biodiversity Net Gain Reports, Habitat Regulations Assessments, Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans, Mitigation and Enhancement Strategies etc.

· Specialist Bat Ecology: Lead on bat surveys, mitigation design, and EPS (European Protected Species) licence applications. Guide junior staff in best practices for bat ecology.

· Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG): Conduct baseline surveys and utilize the latest Defra metric to deliver BNG assessments and advise clients on habitat enhancement strategies.

· Reporting: Produce, review, and sign off on high-quality technical reports, including Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA), Habitat Management & Monitoring Plans, and mitigation strategies.

Essential Requirements

· Education: A strong bachelor’s degree, and or master’s degree, within a related ecological area.

· Experience: 3 to 5 years of professional experience working within ecological consultancy.

· Consultancy Skills: A strong commercial mindset with a proven track record of being client-facing, managing expectations, and delivering a range of ecological projects.

· Leadership: Experience in overseeing the day-today management and development of staff.

· Technical Knowledge: A clear understanding of the relevant legislative, policy, and technical guideline information that drive ecological assessments within England and Wales.

· Fieldwork Expertise: Capable of carrying out Phase I and UK Habitat Classification Surveys within common and rarer habitats within a wide range of habitats found within the UK. Experience in performing a wide-range of targeted protected species surveys and familiarity with the relevant

· Biodiversity Net Gain: Experienced in carrying out metric assessments using DEFRA’s Small Sites Metric, the Statutory Metric, and Condition Assessments.

· GIS: Proficient in the use of GIS (namely QGIS) software and creating high-quality figures.

· Report Writing: Proficiency in producing high-quality ecological reports in accordance with those listed above.

· A Valid UK Driving Licence

Pay: £32,000.00-£38,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Flexitime
• On-site parking
• Work from home

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Conwy