Consultant Ecologist

Freedom Environmental Land Management are currently recruiting a Consultant Ecologist to be based from Home, with occasional travel required across the England and Scotland.

The Consultant Ecologist will be a key part of the strong delivery team, working closely with the Principal Ecological and Environmental Consultant, providing technical oversight and delivery of land management activities across multiple work streams.

Across multiple frameworks Freedom delivers advice on Environmental Land Management Strategy and Planning, Habitat Creation, Restoration and Management, Ecological Surveys and Impact Assessment, Biodiversity Net Gain and Monitoring, Ecological Compensation Strategies, Forestry and Woodland Management, Agricultural Land Management and Scheme Advice, Landscape Assessments, Land Restoration and Soils Advice, Drainage, Health, Safety and Environmental Compliance, Appointment and Management of Contractors, Stakeholder Liaison, Reporting and a wide range of other land management related activities.
Freedom manages delivery from scoping, all the way through to completion, including all aspects of health and safety

**The key responsibilities will include**:

- Contributing to, producing, overseeing, and reviewing high quality ecological reports, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) and Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA).
- Undertaking, overseeing, and reviewing Ecological Surveys, including Extended Phase 1, UKHab and Protected Species Surveys.
- Contribution to, producing and overseeing BNG assessments.
- Contribution to, producing and overseeing habitat management plans.
- Planning of field survey logistics, and preparation and implementation of survey methods.
- Compilation of project specific desk studies and literature reviews.
- Presentation, and interpretation, of data to contribute towards survey, monitoring and management reports.
- Overseeing, or acting as, Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) to deliver onsite ecological supervision/auditing/support.
- Data gathering and mapping using GIS, including QGIS
- Understanding, writing and reviewing risk assessment and method statements for safe site work.
- Managing projects and supporting office management and administrative tasks.
- Contributing towards bids, tenders and budget and project finance management.

**Skills, Experience and Qualifications required**:

- To hold an in-depth knowledge of ecology and survey techniques.
- At least 4 years of demonstrable consultancy experience (or equivalent within the industry) reflecting the elements listed above.
- Confident in Phase 1 habitats/UKHab surveys and good botanical skills.
- Confident in field survey covering a range of British wildlife (typically including bats, badger, birds otter, water vole, GCN, etc.). Species specialisms are welcomed, however an awareness of protected and priority species and habitat’s role in wider ecosystems is also essential.
- Associate or Full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).
- A good understanding of current wildlife and environmental legislation, policy trends, standards and established ecological guidance.
- Protected species class licence holder (bats as a preference) - Desirable.
- Having been a Named Ecologist or an Accredited Agent on EPSL’s and badger mitigation licences - Desirable.
- Full UK driving licence.
- A positive, ambitious, determined and pragmatic outlook.

About Us
We are one of the leading independent engineering and services businesses in the UK. Founded in 1921, with a turnover of £500m and 3000 employees, we are proud of our history of developing great people through our investment in training.

Working across a variety of sectors within the building and infrastructure industry, our innovative, responsible and forward thinking approach allows us to work on fantastic ground-breaking projects, providing solutions using the latest tools and technologies.
Progression is something we value and we’ll make sure that when you join us you have a clearly defined development path, supported by regular reviews, training and ongoing support to enable you to be the best you can be.