Overview

Location: Kent (preferably Canterbury or willing to travel/relocate)

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience.

Start: ASAP/negotiable

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Principal Ecologist with a strong ornithological background to play a key role in leading and delivering complex ecological projects. This is a senior position suited to someone confident in technical delivery, client liaison and mentoring staff with a particular expertise in bird ecology and assessment.

You will take a lead role on projects involving internationally designated sites, providing robust advice, assessment and reporting that stands up to scrutiny at planning, appeal and inquiry.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical leadership and project management of complex ecological
• Leading ornithological assessment and reporting including:
  • Assessments relating to internationally designated sites (SPA, Ramsar and related Habitats Regulations considerations)
  • Breeding and wintering bird surveys and data
• Preparation and review of:
  • Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA).
  • Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA) screening and appropriate
  • Environmental Statement (ES) ecology
  • Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments and metric
• Providing high-quality written outputs suitable for submission to LPAs, statutory consultees and examination/appeal
• Acting as a technical point of contact for clients, planners and other
• Mentoring and supporting junior staff including review of reports and field

Essential Requirements

• Degree (or higher qualification) in ecology, conservation, environmental science or a related discipline
• Significant professional experience in ecological consultancy or a comparable
• Strong ornithological experience including survey design, interpretation and impact
• Demonstrable experience of:
  • Internationally designated sites
  • EcIA preparation and review
  • Ecology chapters of Environmental
  • BNG assessment and
• Excellent written communication skills with a track record of producing clear and defensible technical
• Sound understanding of UK wildlife legislation and planning
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel for site work and

Desirable (but not essential)

• Chartered Ecologist or Full Membership of CIEEM (or working towards).
• Experience supporting projects through appeal or
• Line management
• At least one species licence (GCN, Bat, Hazel Dormice) and recent Named Ecologist

What we offer

• A senior role with real technical influence and
• Opportunity to shape ornithological and ecological best practice within the
• Supportive and collaborative working
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements where
• Competitive salary and benefits
• Ongoing CPD and professional development

We are committed to sustainable working practices and recognise the physical and cognitive demands of nocturnal survey work and actively prioritise recovery. Alongside flexible working and a robust TOIL system, we apply clear limits on the number of nocturnal surveys staff undertake per week and ensure that all staff have a full week free from nocturnal work each month, including during the busiest parts of the survey season.

Location

The role is preferably Kent (Canterbury) based, though hybrid working is supported. Candidates must be willing to travel for site work and meetings as required.

Apply

Please send a CV and Cover letter to charlotte.clements@lloydbore.co.uk