The Opportunity
We are supporting a fantastic client who is seeking a Principal Ecologist who has proven experience, to be based in their Oxford office.
You will be able to bring your knowledge and experience to support thier growth, as they are currently having to turn interesting and exciting work away due to current capacity constraints.
They are a long established and respected consultancy, specialising in applied ecology.
Employee satisfaction is very high and staff turnover very low.
With a diverse portfolio of clients spread across the commercial, public and charity/voluntary sectors, their staff are highly experienced in advising on strategies and solutions for compliance with wildlife legislation and ecological planning requirements, and include recognised experts in fields as diverse as environmental planning and impact assessment, protected species and licensing, advocacy and expert witness services, mitigation and compensation, and habitat management and conservation.
The technical expertise within the practice covers all species of bats, herpetofauna (including protected reptiles and great crested newts), badgers, dormouse, ornithology, botany and a wide range of other matters connected to ecology and biodiversity.
Desirable Qualifications
To be a success within the role as a Principal Ecologist, you will be able to tick a sizeable amount of the following requirements, or you may have other attributes you can bring to compliment these that they would be interest in;
A degree in ecology or relevant subject;
Demonstrable proficiency with survey/ID of one or more taxonomic groups of UK fauna and/or flora;
One or more protected species licences, or proven experience of working under protected species licences;
Demonstrable proficiency with UKHab, and its translation across to and interface with other survey and assessment systems, such as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and the National Vegetation Classification (NVC);
Proven project management expertise, from tendering to final deliverables, and associated client care and junior staff management;
Excellent standards of written output and a pride in the precision and quality of their work;
Demonstrable and working knowledge of UK wildlife legislation and relevant planning policy;
Demonstrable knowledge and practical experience of a range of assessment systems including Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA);
Full driving licence, and openness to autonomous and flexible working;
Willingness to relocate, if necessary, to within commuting distance of our offices just south of Oxford.
Experience and/or expertise in any or all of the following would also be an advantage:
Use of GIS software (QGIS or similar);
Analysis of bat calls (using Kaleidoscope or similar);
Public inquiry experience.
What's on Offer
Successful applicants will join a small, friendly team of twelve staff based in rural surroundings just outside Oxford and will benefit from-
• in-house and external CPD provision,
• staff socials and other rewards,
• a TOIL system for fieldwork,
• various benefits
generous pension provision
an annual field-wear allowance
professional membership fees
life insurance
and access to the Cycle to Work scheme.
Best of all - being in a highly regarded practice that is often at the cutting edge.