Location
Central London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£50,000 - £60,000 per year

About the Role
EMEC 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 support conservation work directly on the ground. 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 people professionally. Working closely with the Consultancy Director and Senior Management Team, you will contribute to EMEC’s strategic direction and business plan delivery.

The role includes providing senior ecological judgement, oversight and quality assurance on complex or higher-risk projects, while delegating technical specialisms to Senior Ecologists. You will collaborate with Project Management and Land Management teams to integrate Ecology expertise across major projects.

Key responsibilities include leading and developing 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, and actively participating in senior management decision-making. You will also ensure compliance with professional, legal, health and safety, and environmental standards within the Ecology function.

Experience
- Substantial experience in ecological consultancy with broad ecological knowledge
- Proven leadership and development of ecologists and high-performing teams
- Strong technical judgement and experience assuring complex ecological work
- Experience managing project portfolios, resources and competing priorities
- Commercial awareness including project performance, budgets, 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 reviewing and developing service lines, pricing, forecasting and budget control
- Ability to use operational and financial data to understand performance and make decisions
- Strong communication, judgement and influencing skills with ability to work 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 how to build and utilise expertise across a team. You maintain high standards, think strategically and develop capability for the future. You are collaborative and commercially aware, with a passion for delivering excellent ecological consultancy that supports nature conservation.

Qualifications
- Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience
- Full membership of CIEEM (Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management)
- Chartered Ecologist or Chartered Environmentalist status and protected-species licences are advantageous
- Recognised expertise in one or more ecological specialisms is desirable

Additional desirable attributes include experience in business development and holding protected-species licences.