Ecologist

Job Title: Senior Ornithologist/Ecologist (Hybrid)

**Job Summary**:
Canavan Associates is seeking an experienced Ornithologist/Ecologist to join our expanding environmental team. Applicants should ideally have a minimum of 4 years of experience working in ecological consultancy and have a strong knowledge of wildlife policy and legislation. You will play a pivotal role in collaborating with project developers and our experienced team of Project managers, Planners, aquatic and terrestrial ecologists, landscape architects, and environmental consultants and planners.

This role involves significant fieldwork, report writing, and interaction with clients and stakeholders to ensure the successful planning, execution of survey work, and delivery of successful project outcomes. The position offers a blend of office, home, and field-based work.

Our company already provides ecological and ornithological survey, reporting, and advice services. We have an established client base. You will report to staff members including, the company principal, and Environmental Manager.

**Location**: Fieldwork across NI / RoI as required, Office space in Derry/Londonderry, with opportunity for home working.

**Benefits**:

- Competitive salary (dependent on experience)
- Family-friendly hybrid working policy, with flexible working arrangements
- 30 days of annual leave (including bank holidays), increasing with tenure
- Support for professional development, including company-funded membership of professional bodies like CIEEM
- Opportunity to work on diverse projects, particularly within the wind energy sector

**Flexibility**: Flexibility to work from home and the office when not attending fieldwork. Fieldwork is an essential part of this role, requiring travel and occasional overnight stays.

**Essentials**: Team working, office time, effective surveying and communication of fieldwork findings are an essential part of this role. Report writing, analysis, and skills are necessary skill components. A full, clean driver’s license, and access to a car are essential.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Lead the design and implementation of ornithological surveys, including site assessments, vantage point surveys, walkovers, and breeding bird surveys, using a variety of survey methodologies and techniques.
- Maintain meticulous field notes and ensure effective data storage and integrity, including data analysis, desk-based studies, and drafting technical reports.
- Conduct Avian and Ecological Impact Assessments (EIAs) with a focus on sensitive species and habitats, particularly in relation to wind energy developments.
- Complete Stage 1 and Stage 2 Appropriate Assessments (Habitats Regulations Assessments and Natura Impact Assessments).
- Support and conduct other ecological surveys (e.g., badgers, bats, newts, and habitats) as appropriate to your skills and career development goals.
- Provide expert advice on ecological and ornithological matters to clients, stakeholders, and project teams, identifying key constraints, solutions, and impact avoidance strategies.
- Stay informed on current legislation, best practices, and the latest ecological and ornithological research and methods.
- Foster collaboration by sharing knowledge and expertise, while building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, contractors, and regulatory bodies.
- Collaborate with clients, sub-consultants, and project teams to ensure project delivery within deadlines, attending meetings to discuss progress and findings.
- Perform additional tasks as required to meet the company’s evolving needs.

**Qualifications**:

- Professional ornithological experience in the public or private sector would be advantageous.
- A minimum of bachelor’s degree in ecology, ornithology, environmental science, biology, or a related discipline.
- Membership, or eligibility for membership, with a relevant professional body (e.g., CIEEM).
- Full clean driver’s license and access to a vehicle.

**Professional skills**
- Professional ornithological experience in the public or private sector would be advantageous.
- Excellent bird identification skills and the ability to demonstrate experience in a range of ornithology surveys and techniques (e.g. vantage points, breeding & wintering birds, raptors, farmland and waders, point counts, transects, and nest monitoring roost and nest location identification, raptor surveys, and collision risk assessment for wind energy development), habitat assessment, and ecological monitoring.
- Experience of working and navigating safely in remote environments, across all seasons, including in inclement weather.
- Willingness to travel for work, including unsociable hours, all year round.
- Good theoretical grounding in ecology, survey guidance, environmental assessment and mitigation measures
- Demonstrable understanding of Irish and NI wildlife legislation and the conservation status of Irish bird species.
- knowledge and understanding of the