Overview

Jacobs has an increasing portfolio of work across the UK and Ireland’s most high-profile projects and programmes. We are currently working across a range of sectors and projects including transport, water and energy for local, regional and national clients including government agencies, local authorities, utilities and energy companies.

We have an exciting opportunity for an Associate Director of Ecology to join our award-winning ecology team, which is at the forefront of solving the world’s most complex environmental challenges and opportunities.

As well as being part of one the UK’s largest most dynamic and respected ecology teams, you will work with some of the UKs most respected organisations and be contributing to some of the largest, complex projects in the UK.

We are particularly interested in hearing from people with demonstrable skills and experience encompassing some or all of the following:

  • Innovative scoping of ecological input to projects
  • Leadership skills in ecological input to projects
  • Team leadership and line management
  • Technical specialism in the field of terrestrial ecology
  • Technical reporting and impact assessment in cognisance of national legislation and guidance
  • Quality assurance of technical reports
  • Working knowledge of protected species licensing
  • Working knowledge of Biodiversity Net Gain process
  • Understanding of project consenting and construction
  • Effective stakeholder and regulator engagement
  • Experience of planning inquiries and Examinations
  • Infrastructure programmes and projects

What’s more important though is your ability to think outside the box, provide constructive feedback and recognise opportunities to improve the way we do things for our clients.

Wherever you are based, we understand that pursuing a new opportunity is a big decision, so we’re not asking for a commitment right now. Instead, why not simply register to start a discussion and see where it goes?

About you: 

The successful person will join a respected and ambitious company with excellent career prospects both locally and internationally.  You will work as part of a diverse and highly skilled team of over 170 ecologists in the UK (600 globally). The Associate Director role is a leadership opportunity to develop and shape a dedicated technical team, build upon the existing extensive project portfolio and lead the team to change.

  • Responsibility for setting the strategic direction of the team – join the management team for the wider terrestrial ecology team and business leadership responsibilities in the wider UK ecology group.
  • Being the first point of contact – provision of high quality, expert advice to both clients and stakeholders.
  • Extensive engagement – with clients, customers and environmental regulators.
  • Support the growth, development and resilience of the team – through enthusiastic line management, empathic leadership and individuals’ personal development.
  • Leading from the front – demonstrate your technical skills, contributing to Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitat Regulations Assessment, providing expert advice and managing the UK terrestrial ecology team.
  • Develop networks across disciplines – many of our projects are complex in nature and you will be required to work with other disciplines to create effective solutions. Creating an environment accessible to other specialist is essential to our project success.
  • Contribute to the identification, bidding and winning of work – working with the Water, Energy and Environment business unit Sales team. This will best leverage the capability of the team to win and deliver new and challenging work.
  • Engagement with Jacobs wider corporate functions – to promote the capabilities of your team is an exciting component to the role, lifting our profile both internally and externally.

Ideally you will have:

  • A background in terrestrial ecology with extensive years of relevant industry experience
  • Chartered membership of a professional body (or experience to obtain chartership)
  • Strategic mindset able to contribute to wider team leadership
  • Confident to take on a mentor role to junior staff
  • Flexible approach to working, with occasional travel required across the UK and Ireland
  • A ‘hands on’ work ethic and good self-awareness
  • Ability to adapt to working on a wide range of projects