Location
Basingstoke (other locations including Newcastle, Manchester, Cambridge, Liverpool, Croydon, Leeds, Nottingham and St Albans may be considered)

Hours
Full Time

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 both internal and external clients. Your role will involve overseeing, 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 the production of ecology chapters for environmental statements and protected species licence applications, and author or technically review 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 comprising around 240 professional experts across arboriculture, forestry, groundwater, surface water, and ecology. The team includes national and global leaders, species licence holders, and experts in impact assessment, habitat creation, ecosystem restoration, enhancement, and management. You will thrive in an inclusive and forward-thinking environment where your contributions are valued.

Enjoy a flexible hybrid working model and benefit from career development opportunities, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days. Be part of a global team delivering projects that create positive and tangible impacts across power and renewables, infrastructure, environment, and transport sectors, collaborating with other disciplines such as landscape, engineering, sustainability, and drainage.

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
You are a confident and motivated ecologist with strong leadership skills and a passion for delivering high-quality ecological consultancy. You thrive in collaborative environments and are committed to innovation and technical excellence. You are adaptable to hybrid working and eager to contribute to a diverse and inclusive team.

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.