Location
Liverpool (other locations considered: Newcastle, Manchester, Cambridge, Basingstoke, Croydon, Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh)

Hours
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 both internal and external clients. Your responsibilities will include planning, scheduling, and organising all phases of ecological project work, ensuring resources, budgets, and controls are in place to meet programme and budget requirements. You will develop technically robust and pragmatic solutions to complex ecological issues, lead and support production of ecology chapters for environmental statements and protected species licence applications, and author or technically check project deliverables to ensure high-quality outputs. You will also support the continued development of our technical capabilities.

At AECOM, you will be part of a Nature business with around 230 professional experts covering arboriculture, forestry, groundwater, surface water, and ecology. The team includes national and global leaders with expertise ranging from species licence holders to specialists in impact assessment, habitat creation, ecosystem restoration, enhancement, and management. You will thrive in an inclusive, forward-thinking environment where your contributions are valued. Enjoy career development opportunities, a flexible hybrid working model, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days, all designed to support your future and well-being.

Experience
- Proven experience leading and managing ecological surveys, licensing, and impact assessments.
- Demonstrated experience 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.
- Able to lead complex projects and collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
- Committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse working environment.

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