Location
Croydon (Flexible hybrid working model with other UK&I locations considered including Cambridge, Basingstoke, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol, Dublin, and Cork)

Hours
Full Time - Flexible hybrid working options available

Salary
Competitive salary commensurate with experience

About the Role
Are you ready to join a team of talented ecologists and shape the future of the environment? Join our dynamic Nature team as a Principal Ecologist and contribute to a wide range of high-profile projects across power and renewables, infrastructure, environment, and transport sectors. You will lead and support the delivery of high-quality ecological consultancy and advisory services, overseeing all phases of ecological project work to ensure resources, budgets, and controls meet programme requirements. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, you will develop technically robust and pragmatic solutions to complex ecological challenges, author and review ecology chapters for environmental statements and protected species licence applications, and support the ongoing development of our technical capabilities.
Our recent projects include some of the largest solar farms in the UK, cable tunnels beneath the River Thames, electricity network upgrades, habitats regulations assessments, and masterplanning for new residential developments. At AECOM, you will thrive in an inclusive, forward-thinking environment with access to career development opportunities, technical practice networks, AECOM University, volunteering days, and a flexible hybrid working model designed to support your work-life balance.

Experience
- Proven experience leading and managing ecological surveys, licensing, and impact assessments
- Demonstrated ability in work-winning, project management, budget oversight, and stakeholder engagement
- Experience reviewing technical work and mentoring wider team members

About you
- Motivated to push the limits of what’s possible in ecological consultancy
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to deliver pragmatic and technically sound solutions
- Collaborative team player who thrives in a diverse and inclusive environment

Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent qualification in ecology or a related subject
- Membership of a relevant professional institution and working towards or holding Chartered Ecologist or Chartered Environmentalist status
- Holder of protected species survey and/or mitigation licences