Overview

  • Post title: Senior Ecological Consultant
  • Responsible to: Principal Ecological Consultant (Director)
  • External Contacts: Companies, Conservation agencies, wildlife trusts and local landowners
  • Internal Contacts: Ecology and Admin Team, Conservation Contracting Team
  • Job Purpose: To lead on delivering the protected species and consultancy work programme

OpenSpace is an Ecological Consultancy and Contracting Company based in the North of England just outside of Carlisle.

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, flexible and hardworking, senior ecologist to work within our consultancy team

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

The role will involve leading the Protected Species work within the ecological consulting team and supporting the other senior ecologist on multi-task projects. The species consultancy work undertakes European Protected Species Consultancy, Protected species surveys, Species Mitigation, Mitigation Plans, EPS Licence Applications, Ecological Impact Assessments and Appropriate Assessments.

Lead on delivering and co-ordinating Bat Species Surveys. Co-ordinate the bat consultant, sub-consultants and volunteers for bat surveys and plan all survey work. The role works within our close-knit team with a strong focus on sharing expertise.

Undertake Project Management and Planning and deliver other surveys including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Scoping Surveys, Bird Surveys, Reptile Surveys, Great Crested Newt Surveys, Vegetation surveys and other species. Provide support to OpenSpace & Sub-consultant Ecologists including survey work, report writing and proof reading/project sign off.

Responsible for undertaking project tenders, financial management of quotations/tenders including agreeing final contract sums with clients (agree our quotation), financial management, project management, signing off sub-consultant invoices and issuing invoices. The role has delegated financial spending for project related items.

You will be required to develop and sustain client relationships including project communication, manage client expectations, project contracts and respond to new opportunities to generate work.

Maintain and develop professional knowledge, practical skills and reporting methods. Includes expanding knowledge in Species Conservation and updates on current legislation and best practice.

Work within a small team with flexible working hours and flexible work approach. This includes assisting, where appropriate and following direction from the Director, on other company work projects. This includes opportunities to work on multi-discipline projects with the conservation contracting team e.g. designing species related mitigation or management, as part of the contracting.

Maintain to a high standard project management, operation of consultancy filing system, work procedures and consultancy administration. This includes management of project job sheets and time sheets.

Person Specification:

Qualifications

  • Ecological, environmental or conservation qualification (NVQ, HND, Degree or equivalent)
  • Full Driving Licence – candidate currently driving and fit to drive
  • Natural England Species Bat Licence (Level 1) or SNH Bat Licence equivalent

Skills (Essential Criteria)

  • A minimum of 4 years’ ecological experience, with a preference for bat species work.
  • Experience in undertaking EPS Licence Applications and Species Mitigation Plans.
  • Good track record in coordinating and undertaking a range of ecological consultancy work.
  • A good understanding of the role of consultants within the commercial sector, identify and expand new areas of business for the ecology team and ability to develop and sustain client relationships.
  • Excellent report writing and oral communication skills.

Skills (Desirable)

  • The candidate to hold or be eligible to apply for full CIEEM Membership.
  • Experience of new and potentially innovative survey techniques & equipment/applications.
  • Hold a Natural England Species Bat Licence (Level 2)

Personal

  • Interest in wildlife conservation and UK wildlife species.
  • Enthusiasm and a strong work ethic are essential.
  • Must demonstrate integrity, commitment and conscientiousness.
  • Self-motivated with good planning and organisational skills

Work in a physically demanding environment due to the site conditions

Must demonstrate a collaborative and pro-active approach to work with team members and other OpenSpace business projects (good team player)

Can demonstrate innovation and strong drive to succeed

The successful candidate must be prepared to be flexible over travel and hours, especially during spring/summer survey season. There will be a requirement to be available to work in the evenings and early mornings, occasional other out of hours work and be away from home for one or more nights per week, as projects require.

If you are interested in this position please email arook@openspacegb.com for an application form and more information. The closing date for applicants is 21st August 2017 with interviews to be held on the week commencing 4th September 2017.

Location: Carlisle