Location
Croydon (other UK locations including Cambridge, Basingstoke, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Liverpool may be considered)

Hours
Full Time - Flexible hybrid working model

Salary
Competitive salary 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 range of projects. These include power and renewables, infrastructure, environment, and transport sectors, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams such as landscape, GIS, engineering, sustainability, and drainage. Recent projects include some of the largest UK solar farms, cable tunnels, electricity network upgrades, habitats regulations assessments, and masterplanning for new residential developments.

Key responsibilities include overseeing all phases of ecological project work, ensuring resources, budgets, and controls meet programme requirements, developing pragmatic solutions to complex ecological issues, leading production of ecology chapters for environmental statements and protected species licence applications, and authoring or reviewing project deliverables to maintain high quality. You will also support the ongoing development of technical capabilities within the team.

At AECOM, you will be part of a Nature business with around 230 experts in arboriculture, forestry, groundwater, surface water, and ecology, including national and global leaders. The role offers an inclusive, forward-thinking environment with career development opportunities, flexible hybrid working, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days. Join us and contribute to projects that create a positive and tangible impact worldwide.

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 team members is essential.

About you
Motivated and confident ecologist with strong leadership skills and a collaborative mindset. You thrive in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment and are committed to delivering technically robust and pragmatic ecological solutions. You value diversity and inclusion and are eager to contribute to an innovative and supportive team culture.

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 is required.