Overview

Opportunity: An opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, ambitious and talented ecologist to join our growing team and help shape the future direction of the ecology unit. This role is a fantastic opportunity to realise your ambitions and join our friendly and supportive team, reporting directly to the Principal Ecologist.

Location: Home-based: must be within 15 miles of the southern half of the M25 (J5 – J12) or M23 with travel predominantly across the south-east and occasionally further afield. Location is essential and we will not be able to consider applications from outside of this area.

Salary & Benefits: £23,000 – £28,000 DOE + contributory pension + 20 days holiday + time off in lieu for out-of-hours survey work (which is additional to rest time built around surveys to ensure safe working) + generous CPD allowance + paid professional membership subscription.

Background: DAA is a small but expanding company with a multi-disciplinary approach, covering ecology, arboriculture and landscape. Our business model is based on employing highly qualified and experienced consultants who are home-based across the south and south-east, supported by high quality IT systems and a friendly virtual team environment (team skype meetings, support and mentoring). We aim to provide a high quality, timely and effective consultancy to our clients who are predominantly in the planning and heritage sectors. Typical clients range from single householders, to mainstream housing developers, planning consultants, architects, heritage land owners as well as utilities contractors. The size of projects range from single dwellings to 200+ residential units, heritage sites and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

This role has come about through continued and sustainable business growth – we have never had a member of the ecology team leave. This is a reflection of the care and respect we give our highly valued staff.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Devising, undertaking and managing a wide range of ecological surveys including extended Phase 1 habitat and protected species surveys and mitigation.
  • Carrying out desk studies, consultations, research, data management and analysis and report writing.
  • Assist with preparing protected species mitigation licences.
  • To project manage smaller contracts and advise clients on the implications of the timeframes for surveys and how best to project plan to ensure they have the necessary information when they are ready to submit a planning application.
  • To attend design team meetings and on-site meetings with planning consultants, LPA officers etc as required.
  • To contribute to the ecological sections of Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitats Regulations Assessments.
  • To manage project-based finances including providing the information needed to the accounts department for invoicing and maintaining commercial awareness at all stages of the project.
  • To liaise with internal team members regarding landscape and arboricultural issues and external team members in the wider design team.
  • To compile survey plans and maps, ideally using QGIS.
  • Conduct a wide range of Phase 2 surveys, including regular out-of-office hours in line with the current survey guidelines.

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

  1. A minimum of two years’ full-time ecological consultancy experience in England, including extensive experience of Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, commercial bat surveys and Ecological Impact Assessment.
  2. Associate membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) or eligible with application already submitted to CIEEM.
  3. Excellent report writing skills and the ability to turn around high-quality reports in good time.
  4. Excellent project management and client liaison skills.
  5. Strong commercial awareness.
  6. Proven experience in managing and undertaking a range of fieldwork, including habitat and protected species surveys.
  7. Sufficient botanical knowledge to carry out Phase 1 habitat mapping with species lists.
  8. Excellent knowledge of current UK legislation and best practice policy.
  9. Full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work, with business use insurance.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience:

  1. Undergraduate degree in Ecology or other relevant environmental discipline.
  2. At least one protected species licence, preferably a level 1 or 2 class licence for bats.
  3. QGIS mapping skills.
  4. Biodiversity Net Gain experience, including use of the latest Defra Metric.
  5. Named ecologist on Mitigation Licences from Natural England.
  6. Experience of bat call analysis using Kaleidoscope, BatExplorer or equivalent software.

Person Specification:

  1. Highly motivated
  2. Personable with good client management skills
  3. Approachable
  4. Good team player, relationship builder

How to Apply:

Please email your CV and covering letter to Principal Ecologist Claire Munn: claire@davidarcherassociates.co.uk. Please also use the same email address to request further information.