Overview

Locations

Liverpool, UK / Altrincham, UK

Country

United Kingdom

Contract Type

Permanent

Work Pattern

Part Time, Full Time

Market

Environment, Water and Wastewater

Discipline

Environment

Job Ref

4285

Recruiter Contact

Cassidy Browne

About the Division

Environmental and social considerations are central to Mott MacDonald’s purpose and its offerings across all sectors and territories. Our environment and social business provides essential services and innovative solutions which anticipate our clients’ needs across all sectors.

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.

Overview of the Role

Do you want to work for a company whose purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes, and to transform businesses, communities, and opportunities for its employees?

Do you live in Liverpool, Altrincham, or nearby, or are you looking for an exciting change?

Our Northern England Environment and Social team is looking for a Senior Ecologist to join our Liverpool and Altrincham ecology team, working closely with our Leeds and Sheffield teams. We have varied projects in Northern England, including renewable, road, and power schemes. You would be part of a team of over 140 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.

We have a dedicated wellbeing network that can help you with advice and information and share key resources. Our Environment and Social division holds environment forums and numerous knowledge-sharing webinars on a range of topics such as biodiversity net gain, climate change, bird surveys, environmental impact assessments, development consent orders, and floating wetlands for water treatment. 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 Liverpool office has a fantastic location, being within the Royal Liver Building. Our Altrincham office is conveniently located next to the Altrincham Interchange.

Key Responsibilities

We are seeking a Senior Ecologist who enjoys leading and working within a close-knit team that operates in and is supported by larger regional and national teams.

You should:

  • Work to a high level of technical knowledge.
  • Confidently provide direction and support as an ecology discipline lead on various projects.
  • Be passionate about using your experience and knowledge for the natural environment and professional excellence.
  • Lead the team in developing innovative solutions for our wide range of clients.

You would contribute to the growth of the Liverpool and Altrincham team and support the development of our close-knit team.

You will enjoy rising to challenges, working across disciplines, finding ways to add value for our customers, using and promoting integrated solutions and innovative technology, and ensuring quality is maintained. Most importantly, you will help us build a lasting and sustainable environmental business.

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

Essential Criteria

  • Experience in the UK ecological consultancy market, with a strong external-facing, client-oriented approach.
  • A degree in Ecology (or a directly related subject).
  • Chartered (or near Chartership) with an appropriate professional body.
  • Strong knowledge and experience in the interpretation of wildlife legislation, key policy, and guidance.
  • Experience in leading ecological surveys, including UK Habitat classification habitat surveys and protected species surveys.
  • Proficiency in writing and quality-assuring reports with good attention to detail.
  • Experience in winning work and delivering contracts on time and within budget.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Willingness to mentor and develop junior staff.
  • Openness to innovation and digital services.
  • Willingness to travel throughout the UK.

Desirable Criteria

  • A master’s or higher degree in Ecology (or directly related subject).
  • Chartered Ecologist or Environmentalist.
  • Experience in people management.
  • Held Natural England protected species development licences (e.g., great crested newt or bats).
  • Experience using the UKHab classification and biodiversity net gain metrics.
  • Basic GIS skills.

About 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.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, promoting fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to apply or attend an interview, contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com, and we will support you.

Agile Working

We’re happy to discuss flexible working and how we can support your responsibilities beyond the workplace.

Benefits

Health and Wellbeing

  • Private medical insurance.
  • Health cash plan for everyday health costs.
  • Access to Peppy for menopause support.
  • Comprehensive wellbeing programme.

Financial Wellbeing

  • Pension contributions matching between 4.5% and 7%.
  • Life assurance up to 4 x basic salary.
  • Income protection scheme.
  • Flexible benefits, including critical illness insurance.
  • Annual bonus schemes.

Lifestyle

  • 33-35 days of holiday, inclusive of public holidays.
  • Enhanced family and carers leave.
  • Employee saving schemes and discounts.

Learning and Development

  • Annual professional institution subscription.
  • Opportunities for technical and soft skills enhancement.

Apply Now

For more information about our application process, click here.

Apply for job