Overview

Location: Cardiff, UK
Country: United Kingdom
Contract type: Permanent
Work pattern: Part Time, Full Time
Market: Environment
Discipline: Environment
Job ref: 4115
Recruiter contact: Martin Keown

 

Mott MacDonald

We’re a global engineering, management, and development consultancy.
Our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities, and employee opportunities.

A fundamental part of this is respecting each person’s differences and striving to meet their needs.

We are proud to be one of Glassdoor’s top employers to work for in the UK, as well as being recognised as a Top Inclusive Company in the UK.

Our values: Progress, Respect, Integrity, Drive, Excellence.

Mott MacDonald are leading the way in Nature Services, and we are looking for people to join our Ecology Team and play their part in integrating nature into all developments so that, together with our clients, we can build a better future.

We pride ourselves on setting and maintaining high standards and are at the forefront of providing ecological advice. Our team has written guidance, delivered training on BNG, and contributed to CIEEM’s raising standards documents. We’ve developed innovative tools to more robustly and efficiently collect and manage ecological data, enabling our team to focus on making a real difference.

We’ve provided detailed biodiversity advice to improve NHS hospitals for people and the planet, delivered Nature-based solutions for water treatment and flood management, and overseen the production of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

We have a large portfolio of projects and a healthy forward-order book, bringing fantastic opportunities for Ecologists at all levels.

Our Cardiff office clients include Welsh Water, Transport for Wales, Association of British Ports (ABP), Local Planning Authorities, and NMWTRA, with projects predominantly in South Wales but also covering Mid and North Wales.

There are currently 10 ecologists in the Cardiff team, spanning a mixture of graduates, ecologists, seniors, one principal ecologist, and a technical director.

Role Details

Joining our team at Principal Ecologist level, you will likely spend the majority of your time office-based but will still have opportunities to get involved in site work, particularly for specialist surveys such as botany, bats, or dormice. You will lead the ecological elements for medium and large-sized projects, pulling in appropriate resources as required and ensuring deliverables are on-time and within budget.

You will support more junior staff, including acting as a line-manager if people management is an area you wish to develop. There are regular opportunities for lead technical ecological roles on large-scale infrastructure projects, and you could also progress your project management experience if this is an area of interest.

The projects you will work on span all stages of a project’s lifecycle, from design conception to implementation, offering opportunities to influence scheme design, integrate enhancements, and promote best practices.

Although you will be a member of the Cardiff ecology team, you will also be connected to a much larger team of ecologists. There are excellent opportunities for career progression and developing a key role within our ecology team.

The role will suit a dynamic, proactive team player who wants to work in a growth area and support the delivery of ecology services in a fast-moving, client-focused, commercial environment.

Candidate Specification

Essential:

  • A degree in Ecology (or a directly related subject). An additional higher degree would be an advantage.
  • Over seven years’ experience in Ecological Consultancy (or equivalent with transferable skills).
  • A Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management or equivalent. Must be a Chartered Environmentalist, Chartered Ecologist, or Chartered Biologist (or able to achieve this within six months).
  • Ability to communicate effectively to multi-disciplinary teams, clients, and regulators.
  • Proficiency in report writing and experience as a checker/reviewer for ecological deliverables.
  • Technical specialism (e.g., holding protected species mitigation licences for bats or dormice) or advanced botanical skills.

Desirable:

  • Experience in People Management.
  • Proven Project Management skills.
  • Experience preparing costs and text for bids.
  • Willingness to travel throughout the UK.
  • Experience advising on Net Benefits for Biodiversity and interpreting Planning Policy Wales and the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act.

UK Immigration:
Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not offering sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. Applications are welcome from candidates eligible for alternative immigration routes.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:
We promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in all we do, encouraging individual expression and creating an inclusive environment for everyone.

Accessibility:
If you require support during the recruitment process, contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com.

Benefits

Health and Wellbeing:

  • Private medical insurance for UK colleagues.
  • Health cash plan for everyday health costs and treatments.
  • Access to Peppy for menopause support.
  • Comprehensive wellbeing program for colleagues and families.

Financial Wellbeing:

  • Pension contributions matching 4.5%–7%.
  • Life assurance up to 4x basic salary.
  • Income protection scheme.

Lifestyle:

  • Minimum 33–35 days holiday, inclusive of public holidays.
  • Flexible holiday options.

Learning and Development:

  • Support for professional institution subscriptions.
  • Opportunities for technical and soft skills development.

Networks and Social Outcomes:

  • Join groups supporting LGBTQ+, gender, race, disability, and parent/carer communities.

 

Apply for job