Location
Croydon (Other locations considered including Cambridge, Basingstoke, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol, Dublin, and Cork)

Hours
Full Time - Flexible hybrid working model

Salary
Competitive salary and benefits package

About the Role
Join AECOM’s dynamic Nature team as a Principal Ecologist and help shape the future of the environment. You will lead and support the delivery of high-quality ecological consultancy and advisory services to internal and external clients across a diverse portfolio of projects in power and renewables, infrastructure, environment, and transport sectors. You will oversee planning, scheduling, and organisation of all phases of ecological project work, ensuring resources, budgets, and controls meet programme requirements. Your role will include developing technically robust and pragmatic solutions to complex ecological issues, leading the production of ecology chapters for environmental statements and protected species licence applications, and authoring or technically reviewing project deliverables to ensure high-quality outputs. You will also support the continued development of our technical capabilities and contribute to a growing team of around 150 ecology professionals across the UK and Ireland. 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 that supports 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 leading stakeholder discussions.
- Experience reviewing technical work and supporting 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 high-quality outputs.
- Collaborative and inclusive mindset, valuing diversity and different perspectives.

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