Senior/principal Ecologist

**How to apply**:
**About the role.**:
Location**:Brighton**

We are looking for a Senior or Principal Ecologist to join our established team in Brighton. We’re seeking an enthusiastic and passionate ecologist who wants to play a key role in this friendly team.

As a multi-disciplinary consultancy, you will also have the opportunity to work with landscape, masterplanning and archaeology/heritage colleagues, developing and utilising a broader understanding of planning and development to deliver great outcomes for people and nature.

**ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**

Our variety of projects and clients provides a diverse and interesting range of work. You will have opportunities to be involved from the strategic planning phase of projects through to implementation. You will be coordinating and delivering high-quality work, helping to develop junior members of the team and, as a senior team member, you will have an important client facing role. You will be technically accomplished and will coordinate and/or lead protected species surveys, prepare and/or oversee PEAs, EcIAs, HRAs, BNG assessments, mitigation strategies and more.

**ABOUT YOU**

We are looking for a friendly, highly motivated and conscientious individual, who demonstrates a passion and enthusiasm for ecology.
- Essential_
- Relevant ecology/biology degree (2:1 or above desirable)
- Protected species survey experience, including personal species survey licences (ideally a Level 2 Bat licence)
- Habitat survey experience (ideally UKHab) and sound botanical skills
- Strong working knowledge of relevant wildlife legislation
- Excellent written English and verbal communication skills
- Skilled with MS Office software (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
- Hard-working and willing to take on new challenges
- Highly organised, able to multi-task and a strong team player who works well with others
- Forward thinking, with a keen interest in staying up to date with the latest survey techniques, guidance and innovations
- Willingness to undertake a share of night-time surveys during the peak survey season, including occasional overnight stays (accommodation and subsistence paid)
- Full, clean UK driving licence, with own car insured for business use
- Membership of CIEEM (ACIEEM or above)
- Desirable_
- Strong technical specialism (e.g. bat, ornithological or botanical skills)
- FISC level 3 or above
- Expertise with QGIS/other GIS packages

**WHAT WE OFFER**

A healthy work-life balance is very important to us and we seek to provide a supportive, friendly and attractive place to work. In addition, we offer an exciting benefits package, including:

- Competitive salary (Senior Ecologist at £35,000 - £42,000 per annum)
- A permanent, full-time contract
- Hybrid working, with the option to work from home up to 2 days a week (following completion of probationary period)
- Flexible working around core hours
- Annual profit related and performance-based bonus scheme
- Overtime pay arrangement for out-of-hours survey work
- 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days with length of service
- Company pension contribution, which increases with length of service
- Annual staff trip and funded team social events
- Annual Company and Ecology Team Days, with internal and external speakers
- Mobile phone allowance
- Commitment to continued professional development, including a generous training allowance for external training courses targeted at your areas of interest and development
- Paid subscription to CIEEM/protected species licence fees
- Commitment to employee wellbeing, including access to our Employee Assistance Programme and mental health first-aiders