Principal Ecologist

Company Description
**At AECOM, we’re delivering a better world.**

We believe infrastructure creates opportunity for everyone. Whether it’s improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive.

Our clients trust us to bring together the best people, ideas, technical expertise and digital solutions to our work in transportation, buildings, water, the environment and new energy. We’re one global team - 47,000 strong - driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world.

**Job Description**:
AECOM are looking for a Principal Ecologist to join our vibrant team based in Edinburgh / Glasgow. We offer the scope to undertake the full range of ecological consultancy services, including specialist habitat and species surveys, impact assessment, providing advice on biodiversity mitigation and developing habitat management plans across a broad range of exciting projects. Whether you’re a technical expert with a specialism in a particular species or group, or you’re a generalist who enjoys working on a range of projects, we can provide the platform to create and shape your own role.

This is a fantastic opportunity to further your career within an established and successful business that has welfare and wellbeing as core values. We promote a healthy work-life balance and AECOM encourages agile-working and flexible home-office location. We offer the benefits of both working for a large multi-disciplinary organisation, as well as a close-knit ecology consultancy. With over 160 ecologists based across the UK, we offer mentors at a personal level to help guide the development of your skills and career. At AECOM you can go as far as your ability and desire will take you To make this happen we provide you with the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse workforce of highly talented professionals on regional, national and even international projects that impact our world for the better.

As a Principal Ecologist at AECOM you’ll be reliable, hard-working, organised and proactive, in order to help you manage a busy workload. You’ll have specialist knowledge developed over the course of your career, and experience of a wide range of projects. You’ll have good project management skills and report-writing skills, and, ideally, some experience of line-managing individuals.

Roles and Responsibilities
- Become part of our team of Ecology professionals working on multi-disciplinary projects across UK & Ireland
- Lead on the winning and delivering of an exciting portfolio of ecological surveys and assessments on time, to a high standard and within budget
- Manage, coordinate and take part in desk and field-based habitat and species surveys
- Oversee and lead the production of ecology chapters for Environmental Impact Assessment Reports and Appropriate Assessment documents
- Undertake technical reviews to ensure high quality outputs
- Be a role model to others within the team, with team development and succession planning being an important consideration
- Provide robust, proportionate advice to clients on a wide range of ecological issues
- Manage projects within the resources available to budget and deadlines
- Assist with other administrative duties which add value to the management and development of the ecology team

Additional Information

Minimum Requirements:
The person we are looking for will ideally have:

- A proactive and careful approach to Health and Safety
- Strong client focus and team player values
- Previous relevant experience working within an ecology team
- Committed to continuing professional development including through membership of CIEEM (or willingness to become a member)
- A strong sense of ownership in both your time management and the work you produce
- Professional, organised and thorough approach to work with a keen eye for detail
- Project and line management skills
- Phase 1 habitat and/or species sur

**Your benefits will include**:
Helping our employees achieve a healthy work-life balance is important to us. If you join AECOM, as well as receiving a competitive salary, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore flexible working arrangements. Core benefits include 25 days’ annual leave, company pension scheme, private medical insurance, life assurance and one paid annual professional institution membership fee. You can also choose from a wide range of flexible benefits to suit your lifestyle.

You’ll also be able to give back to communities with up to two paid CSR days each year. Through our charity, The AECOM Foundation, you can volunteer to support children in developing countries. And if you’re a member of the Reserve Forces you’ll receive an additional 15 days paid leave for training commitments.

**Here, you will have freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.**

We will give you the flexibility you need to do your best work. Whether you’re working from an AECOM offi