Overview

  • Job Title: Principal Ecologist
  • Location: Birmingham/ can offer full remote with occasional travel to Midlands
  • Salary: Up to £75,000 plus benefits

Are you passionate about shaping the future of the UK’s natural environment? We’re representing a leading infrastructure delivery partner, working on one of the UK’s most ambitious and high-profile projects. This is your chance to drive ecological excellence at scale – influencing biodiversity outcomes and helping to deliver a sustainable legacy for generations to come.

The Impact You’ll Make

  • Shape the design and delivery of ecological solutions that contribute directly to achieving No Net Loss of Biodiversity.
  • Lead the integration of habitat creation, enhancement, and protected species mitigation into one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure programmes.
  • Influence key stakeholders – from environmental regulators to engineers – to ensure biodiversity remains at the heart of every decision.
  • Drive innovation by blending ecological science with large-scale civil engineering, solving complex environmental challenges along the way.
  • Leave a lasting legacy by helping to deliver a nationally significant “Green Corridor” that restores, protects, and enhances the natural environment.

Your Key Responsibilities

  • Lead ecological excellence – shape and assure innovative design solutions that meet the highest environmental standards and industry best practice.
  • Drive biodiversity outcomes – oversee habitat creation, enhancement strategies, and protected species mitigation to maximise environmental gains.
  • Collaborate across disciplines – work hand-in-hand with engineers, landscape designers, and construction teams to embed ecology seamlessly into project delivery.
  • Champion data-driven decisions – monitor ecological performance, adapt strategies based on evidence, and deliver continuous improvements across the programme.
  • Take ownership of delivery – manage ecological work packages, tackle challenges head-on, and ensure milestones are achieved without compromising quality.

About You

  • Experience in ecological design, mitigation, and enhancement within major construction or infrastructure projects.
  • Knowledge of environmental legislation, standards, and best practice guidance.
  • Proven ability to manage complex ecological programmes and engage confidently with stakeholders.
  • CIEEM membership (or eligible), ideally holding protected species licences.
  • Skilled communicator with a proactive, solutions-driven mindset.

This is a rare opportunity to make a measurable impact on biodiversity at a truly transformative scale. If you’re ready to take the lead in shaping a greener future, we’d love to hear from you.

Please send your CV to fraser.mclachlan@shirleyparsons.com

To apply for this job email your details to fraser.mclachlan@shirleyparsons.com.