Consultant/senior Ecologist

Binnies are pleased to be recruiting for a Consultant/Senior Ecologist to be part of our national team of ecologists and other environmental professionals that form our Environmental Services team. The role is based from our Bradford on Avon office but we are happy to offer flexible (hybrid) working.

You will get the opportunity to work on an interesting and varied portfolio of work including flood, coastal and maritime projects, for clients such as the Environment Agency, and a range of other sectors such as ports, water utilities, transport and renewable power. One of our current projects is the River Thames Scheme EIA, a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project requiring 8km of new flood relief channels and design of a large number of habitat creation areas in order to provide Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). See River Thames Scheme.

There is also opportunity to support our growing portfolio of water and catchment work including river restoration, BNG and Solutions By Nature; our joint venture providing nature-based solutions via blue-green infrastructure to the water industry.

We are a close team and have an active national Ecology Community of Practice and pride ourselves on being at the forefront of ecological best practice and innovation. Our ecologists are empowered to work closely with our multi-disciplinary teams and shape projects to deliver more sustainable solutions and maximise Biodiversity Net Gain/Net Benefit.

We will provide mentoring and training to develop your field and ecological assessment skills, and progress through CIEEM to eventual chartership. We will also support you to obtain protected species licences or other qualifications depending on where your ecological interests lie. Binnies pay for two professional memberships as part of our benefits package.

Binnies is a Registered Ecological (CIEEM) and Landscape Practice (Landscape Institute) and hold the IEMA EIA Quality Mark, which is a benchmark of our high standards in ecological and environmental assessment.

**About the Role**
- Leading or supporting on a range of field survey types, including UKHabs/Phase 1, bats, water voles, otters, badgers and great crested newts
- Input into a range of reports and assessments such as Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA) and Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA)
- Providing ecological input into other consents such as Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments
- Design of habitat restoration/creation schemes and delivering BNG
- Ecological Clerk of Works roles

**Essential Requirements**

The role is suitable for an ecologist with an ecological/environmental degree and at least 2 seasons of field experience. The Senior role will require you to be a full member of CIEEM (or close to achieving). You should also possess and be able to demonstrate the following qualifications, skills and knowledge:

- a broad range of ecological survey skills
- an understanding of Biodiversity Net Gain
- excellent written and oral communication

While the well-being of our Ecologists is of the uppermost importance, there will be a requirement to work unsociable hours as required by the business in order to deliver specific contracts. A full UK driving licence is also required.

**Desirable Requirements**
- experience of using Arc suite (Collector, Survey 123) or similar
- membership of CIEEM (any level)
- have (or working towards) a protected species licence or FISC qualification
- previous consultancy experience.

**Why join us?**

Would you like to work in a business where you feel empowered to grow? Where there is no place for criticism or discrimination? A place where people are mindful and respectful? If so, then Binnies is the place for you.

We have a strong ‘ENGAGED’ culture that runs through everything we do. Evolved over 100 years, we have a culture of caring, where our employee’s wellbeing and work-life balance are priorities, in fact we have industry leading flexible and hybrid working arrangements. We pride ourselves on providing an inclusive working environment, where a diverse workforce is supported to grow and develop.

The successful applicant will go from being great alone to truly amazing with Binnies.

We develop intelligent solutions using our award-winning integrated planning and design approach to deliver functional infrastructure and lasting environmental and social legacies. This is backed by a culture that has stayed true since our foundation over 100 years ago. We create new possibilities for humanity through our innovative approach to delivery.

Together with our clients, we are always striving to find a smarter way to deliver projects. From providing low carbon, sustainable and resilient water solutions, flood alleviation and environment services, to connecting people with insights and data. Our business exists to improve the quality of life for our local communities today and for generations to come.

Binnies is part of the RSK Group,