Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Competitive salary package

About the Role
Ricardo Energy & Environment is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company with over 100 years of engineering excellence and nearly 3,000 employees across more than 20 countries. Our vision is to create a safe and sustainable world by delivering innovative cross-sector sustainable products and solutions.

We are seeking a Principal Consultant with extensive experience leading aquatic ecology assessments and supporting surveys within the UK water industry. You will lead and develop a team of aquatic ecologists, supporting and training junior staff, while delivering expertise across all project stages including bidding, feasibility, optioneering, field survey programming, detailed design, and assessment.

Key responsibilities include contributing to consents such as Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA), Water Framework Directive (WFD), Drought Permits, and Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) assessments as a technical author or reviewer. The role demands strong organisational skills and effective communication with colleagues and clients to deliver projects on budget and on schedule.

You will collaborate within a multidisciplinary team of water and environmental experts, including specialists in EIA, HRA, water resources, hydro-ecology, hydrology, geomorphology, water quality, and natural capital.

We offer a welcoming and inclusive workplace culture that values diversity and supports flexible working arrangements including remote, office-based, or hybrid options. Wellbeing is central to our culture, enabling employees to flourish and reach their full potential.

Our benefits package includes 25 days' annual leave plus 8 flexible bank holidays, a competitive pension scheme, life assurance, professional subscriptions reimbursement, and a wide range of flexible benefits to support your physical and mental health.

Experience
- Extensive experience leading aquatic ecology assessments and surveys within the UK water industry
- Proven ability to lead and develop teams, supporting and training junior staff
- Strong knowledge of UK and EU wildlife legislation, planning policies, licensing requirements, and best practice survey techniques
- Experience leading Ecological Impact Assessments and Habitats Regulations Assessments
- Good understanding of Water Framework Directive assessments, particularly biological metrics and indices
- Skilled in planning and coordinating field surveys, analysing results, and ecological mitigation works
- Specialist knowledge in fisheries, macroinvertebrate, or macrophyte ecology is preferable
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to produce accurate technical reports and engage confidently with clients and stakeholders
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects and proposals concurrently

About you
- A self-starter with excellent team working and communication skills
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to multitask and handle several projects simultaneously
- Detail-oriented with proven technical reviewing skills
- Flexible and adaptable to business needs
- Passionate about delivering high-quality ecological consultancy and sustainable solutions

Qualifications
- A first degree in a relevant environmental discipline, ideally complemented by a postgraduate degree