Location
Croydon, with hybrid working options across UK&I offices including Manchester, Leeds, Basingstoke, Newcastle, Glasgow, Cambridge, Nottingham, Bristol and Liverpool (other UK locations may be considered).

Hours
Full Time - Flexible hybrid working model to support work-life balance.

Salary
Competitive salary with a comprehensive benefits package tailored to support your future and well-being.

About the Role
Join AECOM’s dynamic Nature team as an Associate Director and lead ecology services on high-profile major infrastructure projects across sectors such as energy, water, renewables, defence, and transport. You will act as the ecology lead for one or more major projects, managing, planning, reporting, and defending technical outputs to clients, project teams, and stakeholders through relevant planning regimes. Supported by a full ecology team, you will select and coordinate appropriate resources to deliver successful project outcomes. Your role will include client engagement, mentoring ecology team members, and contributing to project bidding, initiation, delivery, and review processes. You will represent AECOM at meetings, site visits, and stakeholder discussions, ensuring technical excellence and innovation. This is an opportunity to work within a team of around 150 ecology professionals across the UK&I, including national and global leaders in impact assessment, habitat creation, ecosystem restoration, and management. AECOM offers a forward-thinking, inclusive environment with career development opportunities, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days to support your growth and well-being.

Experience
- Demonstrable experience in planning and delivery of ecological services on projects in the UK or Ireland.
- Experience acting as ecology lead on major projects, ideally including Development Consent Order (DCO) schemes and examination processes.
- Proven ability to manage project deliverables, scheduling, and budgets.
- Experience mentoring and supporting ecology team members.

About you
- Confident and proactive with strong client-facing skills.
- Committed to innovation, continuous professional development, and a proactive approach to Health and Safety.
- Able to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams and lead technical outputs.
- Enthusiastic about working in an inclusive and diverse environment that values unique perspectives and contributions.

Qualifications
- Membership of an appropriate professional institution (e.g., CIEEM) with evidence of working towards Chartered status.
- Well-developed understanding of relevant wildlife legislation.
- Commitment to professional growth and mentoring others within the ecology team.