Location
Central London with hybrid working model; other UK offices including Manchester, Leeds, Basingstoke, Newcastle, Glasgow, Cambridge, Nottingham, Bristol, and Liverpool may be considered.

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Competitive salary and benefits package

About the Role
Join AECOM’s dynamic Nature team as an Associate Director and Ecology Lead for major projects. You will lead ecological services on high-profile infrastructure projects across sectors such as energy, water, renewables, defence, and transport. Your role involves planning, managing, reporting, and defending technical ecology outputs to clients, project teams, and stakeholders through relevant planning regimes. Supported by a full ecology team, you will select and coordinate multidisciplinary teams to deliver project objectives. You will act as the main client contact, represent AECOM at meetings and site visits, and mentor ecology team members. This role offers the opportunity to work on nationally and internationally significant projects, contributing to sustainable environmental outcomes. AECOM provides a flexible hybrid working environment, career development opportunities, and a culture that values innovation, diversity, and inclusion. Become part of a global team dedicated to delivering a better world through infrastructure and environmental excellence.

Experience
- Demonstrable experience in planning and delivery of ecological services on UK or Ireland projects
- Experience leading ecology on major projects, ideally including Development Consent Order (DCO) schemes and examination processes
- Proven ability to manage client relationships and project teams
- Experience mentoring and supporting ecology team members

About you
- Confident and proactive with strong leadership skills
- Committed to innovation, continuous professional development, and health and safety
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
- Enthusiastic about working in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment
- Supportive of diversity and inclusion, including neurodiversity

Qualifications
- Membership of a relevant professional institution (e.g., CIEEM) with evidence of working towards Chartered status
- Well-developed understanding of relevant wildlife legislation and ecological best practice