Location
Nottingham

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£50,000 per annum

About the Role
EMEC Ecology is an established environmental consultancy delivering ecology, land management and project management services across infrastructure, development and the public and private sectors. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, all profits directly support conservation work for nature. We are seeking a Principal Ecologist to lead our Ecology team and join EMEC's Senior Management Team. This senior leadership role carries responsibility for the overall performance, quality, and development of our Ecology service.

You will lead an experienced team, maintain high technical standards, and ensure the team has the skills, capacity and processes to deliver consistently for clients while developing our people. Working closely with the Consultancy Director and other senior leaders, you will contribute to EMEC’s strategic direction and business plan delivery. You will use project, financial and operational data to monitor performance, anticipate future needs, and make decisions on priorities and resources.

The role includes providing senior ecological judgement, oversight and quality assurance on complex or higher-risk work. While you will retain an important technical role, Senior Ecologists will lead specific technical areas, allowing you to focus on overall quality, capability and performance. Collaboration with Project Management and Land Management teams is key to ensuring Ecology plays a strong role in major projects and integrated delivery.

Key responsibilities include leading the Ecology department, line managing Senior Ecologists, planning resources, monitoring performance through KPIs, maintaining technical quality and standards, providing senior technical advice, overseeing project delivery and commercial performance, supporting client relationships, contributing to tenders, identifying future skills needs, and actively participating in senior management decisions and organisational improvements. You will also ensure compliance with professional, legal, quality, health and safety, and environmental standards across the Ecology function.

Experience
- Substantial experience in ecological consultancy with a broad ecological knowledge base.
- Proven leadership and development of ecologists and high-performing teams.
- Strong technical judgement and experience reviewing complex ecological work.
- Experience managing project portfolios, resources and competing priorities.
- Commercial awareness including project performance, budgeting, forecasting and resource utilisation.
- Experience working with clients and contributing to significant tenders and new business opportunities.
- Strong knowledge of wildlife legislation, planning policy, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and professional ecological practice.
- Experience in service line development, pricing, forecasting and budget control.
- Ability to use operational and financial data to assess performance and inform decisions.
- Strong communication, judgement and influencing skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with senior leaders.

About you
You are an experienced ecological consultant ready to lead a department and inspire a team while providing senior technical expertise. You bring significant technical credibility but understand that you do not need to be the leading specialist in every ecological discipline. You know how to build and leverage expertise across a team, maintain high standards, think strategically and develop future capability.

Experience in business development, holding protected-species licences, Chartered Ecologist or Chartered Environmentalist status, and recognised expertise in one or more ecological specialisms would be advantageous.

Qualifications
- Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience.
- Full membership of CIEEM (Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management).