Location
Manchester (other locations considered: Newcastle, Cambridge, Liverpool, Basingstoke, Croydon, Leeds, Nottingham, St Albans)

Hours
Flexible hybrid working model

Salary
Negotiable

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. Your responsibilities will include planning, scheduling, and organising all phases of ecological project work, ensuring resources, budgets, and controls meet programme and budget requirements. You will develop technically robust and pragmatic solutions to complex ecological issues, lead the 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.

Our Nature business includes around 240 professional experts in arboriculture, forestry, groundwater, surface water, and ecology, including national and global leaders. Projects span power and renewables, infrastructure, environment, and transport sectors, often collaborating with landscape, engineering, sustainability, and drainage disciplines. Recent work includes some of the largest solar farms in the UK, energy transition projects, habitats regulations assessments, and masterplanning for new residential developments.

At AECOM, you will thrive in an inclusive, forward-thinking environment where your contributions are valued. Enjoy career development opportunities, technical practice networks, AECOM University, volunteering days, and a flexible hybrid working model that supports your work-life balance.

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
Committed to delivering high-quality ecological consultancy with strong leadership skills. You are proactive, collaborative, and able to develop pragmatic solutions to complex ecological challenges. You thrive in a dynamic, inclusive environment and are motivated to contribute to innovative projects that create positive environmental impact.

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.