Overview

We are seeking someone who enjoys working in a smaller close-knit team functioning within a larger regional team, with access to experience, knowledge, and support across all species and areas of ecology. You will be passionate about the natural environment, able to take initiative and ownership of tasks, and willing to use your enthusiasm and knowledge to deliver high quality work and meaningful ecology solutions. The work will be varied and be a mixture of field survey work and ecological reporting, as well as mitigation, compensation, and enhancement design.

We are looking for someone who is confident in undertaking survey work, including habitat surveys (e.g. UKHab) and protected species surveys (particularly for bats and great crested newt) and able to support junior members of the team. You will be able to produce detailed assessments (PEA reports, Protected Species reports, EcIA, ES chapters, HRA etc) and reporting across the full spectrum required by ecology.  As a Senior Ecologist we are looking for someone to rise to a challenge, find ways to add value for our customers, use and promote innovative technology, and above all, ensure quality is maintained. Most importantly you will be helping us to build a lasting and sustainable environmental business.

This opportunity is not a one-way street as we will give you an exciting space in which to develop and support you in this development. You will be visible within our business, working with other ecology team leads across the UK and providing you with the opening for your reputation to grow, allowing you to influence peers both internally and across the sector.

Essential:

 

  • Competent Senior Ecologist with strong UK experience.
  • A degree in Ecology (or directly related subject). An additional higher degree would be an advantage.
  • Full member of CIEEM, ideally a Chartered or working towards Chartered Environmentalist/Ecologist.
  • Good knowledge of wildlife legislation including planning processes and/or EIA/HRA assessments and undertaking surveys.
  • Good knowledge, understanding and experience of applying relevant guidance for surveys.
  • Proficiency in report writing skills, displaying good standards with attention to detail and ability to write accurate and concise reports, including EcIAs and HRAs.
  • Proficiency in undertaking quality assurance on a wide range of ecology reports, including EcIAs and HRAs.
  • Experience in field surveys including Phase 1 habitat survey, UK Habitat assessment,  and protected species surveys.
  • Experience in Biodiversity Net Gain which should include surveys, metric calculations, BNG design, and BNG management plans.
  • Attention to detail and the ability to deliver work on time and to budget.
  • Excellent communication skills including report writing and checking, and presentation skills.
  • Excellent business development skills with drive and ambition to grow these key areas.
  • Experience in the UK ecological consultancy market, with desirable experience of external-facing, client-orientated roles.
  • Willingness to mentor junior staff.
  • Willingness to encourage innovation and digital services.
  • Willingness to travel throughout the UK.

 

Desirable:

 

  • A masters or higher degree in Ecology (or directly related subject).
  • NRW protected species licence(s), ideally for great crested newt and / or bats
  • Experience in using the UKHab classification and the DEFRA biodiversity net gain metric (for work across the border).
  • Willingness to participate and use innovation and digital services.
  • Basic GIS skills.
  • This role will be supporting colleagues in Wales and other parts of the UK, working with clients and stakeholders that may speak Welsh. Therefore, the ability to speak Welsh may be of use.

 

If you meet most of what we are looking for, please still apply. We understand not everyone will meet all the requirements, but you might have the skills we didn’t know we need. We will consider alternative locations for strong candidates.

 

We would also consider Prinicipal or experienced ecologists looking for a step up.

 

Our North Wales Environment and Social team, based in Colwyn Bay, is increasing in size in line with our work locally. We have a vacancy for an experienced Senior Ecologist to be part of a new ecology team based in our Colwyn Bay office. We already have established and varied projects in North Wales including renewable, road and power schemes which the new team would be involved in, as well as working closely with our Cardiff, Altrincham, Liverpool and Birmingham teams. You would be part of a team of over 150 ecologists nationally with specialists in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecology.

 

We are a highly collaborative team across all environmental disciplines, which makes Mott MacDonald a great place to work. While we are an employee-owned company, our ecology teams are small enough to have a family feel but large enough to work on some of the UK’s biggest projects. These are led and supported by a fantastic mix of specialists with a wealth of experience and a culture of supporting and learning from others, coaching, and mentoring.

 

We pay our ecologists in line with their engineering colleagues with the ability to earn performance-based bonuses throughout the year. Our projects are diverse, interesting, and technically challenging and we excel in offering innovative solutions. Our ecology teams across the UK are highly experienced in their fields and are proactive when working together imparting knowledge. We are a well-respected company with strong values.  At a company level we are driving forward on collaborative nature-based solutions which incorporate net gains for biodiversity as well as climate change resilience, carbon sequestration and natural capital accounting. We pride ourselves on making a difference in our projects.

 

We have a dedicated wellbeing network that can help you with advice and information and share key resources. We have a strong sports and social team who hold events throughout the year, which are fully inclusive as well as UK-wide events such as sports day and skiing trips. Our Environment and Social division hold environment forums and numerous knowledge-sharing webinars on a range of topics such as biodiversity net gain and climate change, bird surveys, Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool, environmental impact assessments and development consent orders, and floating wetlands for water treatment amongst other topics. Through our corporate social responsibility work we aim to make a positive difference and staff are supported to participate in activities to support their local communities.

 

Our Colwyn Bay office is a small, friendly office with lots of sports and social events throughout the year. North West Wales is a fantastic location for those who love the outdoors and stunning scenery! We are on the doorstep of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, with miles of beautiful coastline and beaches (including one only a few minutes’ walk from the office). Travel connections are excellent with the London-Holyhead railway line and A55 Expressway both passing through Colwyn Bay – Chester is only a 45-minute train ride away.