Overview

AECOM is a premier, fully integrated professional and technical services firm positioned to design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets around the world for public- and private-sector clients. With nearly 100,000 employees — including architects, engineers, designers, planners, scientists and management and construction services professionals — serving clients in over 150 countries around the world, AECOM is ranked as the #1 engineering design firm by revenue in Engineering News-Record magazine’s annual industry rankings, and has been recognized by Fortune magazine as a World’s Most Admired Company. The firm is a leader in all of the key markets that it serves, including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, oil and gas, water, high-rise buildings and government. AECOM provides a blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation and technical excellence in delivering customized and creative solutions that meet the needs of clients’ projects. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM companies, including URS Corporation and Hunt Construction Group, have annual revenue of approximately $19 billion. More information on AECOM and its services can be found at www.aecom.com.

About the Business Line Environment

Our team of environment specialists offers clients expertise in air quality, impact analysis and permitting, environmental health and safety management consulting/due diligence, remediation consulting/engineering and construction/site restoration, specialty and emerging technologies, waste services and water and natural resources.

Job Summary

AECOM has a vacancy for a Consultant Ecologist with good survey, communication and report writing skills to join our Ecology team in Leeds.  This is an exciting opportunity for someone to join a well-established team and be part of a wider national team of over 100 ecologists. As part of the role you will work closely with colleagues in the ecology team as well as other technical disciplines on a wide range of projects.  You will be offered support to expand your experience and develop within a structured, friendly team environment.

The Leeds team has an established track record of successfully delivering ecological projects throughout the North East of England from Preliminary Ecological Appraisals to Ecological Impact Assessments and mitigation design. We also work with the national ecology team throughout the UK providing support on large scale multi-disciplinary projects.   We are now looking to enhance and grow our team with an individual with a sound technical background in ecology who shares our enthusiasm to deliver ecology projects to high standard and determination to support our expanding workload.

The individual we are looking for will be a team player with a strong aptitude for hard work, client care, project delivery and development of innovative, cost effective solutions in a working environment that is collaborative, stimulating and demanding. You will deliver ecological consultancy and advisory services to both internal and external clients to a high level of technical quality and to programme and budget.  You will need to be equally comfortable working on small or major projects, contributing positively to the successful delivery of projects, notably in the power, infrastructure, renewable, environmnet and industrial sectors.

The successful candidate will have knowledge of UK wildlife legislation and policy and have a demonstrable history of successfully working in ecology consultancy including through client liaison, within multi-disciplinary teams and completion of projects to a high standard, on time and within budgets.  The role would suit a self-motivated individual looking to advance their career in a dynamic team.

There are 17 Ecologists within the Leeds team, we provide specialist ecology surveys including botanical, ornithological and protected species and provide advice on biodiversity enhancement and management planning for biodiversity.  We carry out Ecological Impact Assessment, design mitigation strategies for protected species as well as providing input into master plans.  The Leeds team are working for a variety of clients including National Grid, HS2 Ltd, Crest Nicholson, Yorkshire Water, Environment Agency, Highways England, Sunderland City Council and RES.

We have an impressive portfolio of major national infrastructure projects and mixed development schemes.   A selection of our current and recent projects includes:
A1 Leeming to Barton upgrade
A6 Manchester Airport Relief Road
Carbon Capture and Storage Pipeline
Visual Impact Provision Project – Peak District
Wakefield East – Mixed Development
Wakefield Eastern Relief Road
Job Responsibilities:

The appropriate level of technical expertise is required in order that the Job / Project Accountabilities listed below can be carried out to the necessary standard:
Supporting liaison with project managers and clients on the delivery of ecological requirements within multi-disciplinary tenders and projects;
Organizing and carrying out desk studies and field based habitat, botanical, protected and non-native invasive species surveys.
Undertaking the analysis, evaluation, interpretation and presentation of ecological data, including through production of Ecological Impact Assessments and design of mitigation strategies;
Safe delivery of protected species and habitat surveys; analysis and evaluation of results, impact assessments, and the design and implementation of successful mitigation strategies;
Performing the role of an Ecological Clerk of Works on construction projects;
Assisting with managing the technical and financial performance of ecological projects to meet budgets and deadlines;
Communicating effectively with their line manager, project managers, clients, project teams and other members of the ecology team, within projects and with clients by telephone, e-mail, letters and reports;
Compliance with internal business management procedures, including in relation to health and safety and technical quality of all advice and outputs; and
Undertaking other tasks which add value to the development of the ecology team or support wider environmental business goals, as required.

The candidate must be willing to undertake moderate (significant at times) travel within the UK to other offices and site surveying locations sometimes staying locally for several days.

Minimum Requirements
Proactive and careful approach to Health and Safety, including first aid training certificate;
Technical and professional proficiency with a demonstrable history of successfully working in ecology consultancy including through client liaison, within multi-disciplinary teams and completion of projects to a high standard, on time and within budgets;
Detailed knowledge of UK and EC wildlife legislation and policy, as well as Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA);
Professional, organised and thorough approach to work which demonstrates an attention to detail;
Experience of organizing surveys and consulting with land owners regarding access for surveys;
Strong and versatile problem solving and inter-personal skills, including motivating others;
Proven ability to manage own time and work closely and collaboratively within a team or alone to tight deadlines;
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, in particular, the ability to write concise technical reports;
Possess, or able to obtain, appropriate security clearances;
Experience of ecological watching briefs and Ecology Clerk of Work;
Experience in one or more of the following areas: botanical identification, undertaking Phase 1 Habitat / NVC surveys and protected species surveys, preferably breeding and wintering birds and/or bats;
Electronic data capture, analysis and presentation;
Willing to travel to offices and sites within the UK and potentially internationally when required by work demand;
Adaptable and flexible approach to work to meet peaks in demands (as all roles are likely to involve occasional longer/and or unsociable hours and a degree of working away from home for days/ weeks at a time);
A track record in, or aspirations for, continuing professional development.
Preferred Qualifications To include at least some of the following:

Proactive and careful approach to Health and Safety, including first aid training certificate, CSCS card or evidence of similar H&S training or accreditation is desirable as is understanding of working safely on surveys and construction sites;
Recognised degree in a biological, science or related discipline – a relevant post graduate qualification in the one of these would be advantageous;
Full Member of CIEEM or similar professional body; or eligible to qualify for this status;
Chartered with a professional accreditation/ registration body;
Holder of relevant protected species survey (and mitigation licences), or ability and willingness to work towards holding such licences;
Licensed to drive a vehicle in the UK.

What We Offer AECOM is a place where you can put your innovative thinking and business skills into high gear and work alongside other highly intelligent and motivated people. It’s a place where you can apply your skills to some of the world’s most challenging, interesting, and meaningful projects worldwide. It’s a place that values the diversity of our areas of practice and our people. It’s what makes AECOM a great place to work and grow. AECOM is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
Please note that AECOM does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, AECOM will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, AECOM explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of AECOM.