Location
Croydon or London, UK

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Competitive salary package commensurate with experience

About the Role
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries. We deliver impactful projects that shape the future and benefit communities worldwide. Our Ecology Team is at the forefront of integrating nature into developments, providing high-quality ecological advice and innovative solutions. Based in Croydon or London, you will join a diverse and skilled team working on a wide range of projects including flood defence schemes, biodiversity net gain (BNG) strategies and implementation, specialist species surveys, and landscape-scale planning for nature recovery.

As Principal Ecologist and Regional Deputy Team Lead, you will support the Regional Lead in managing the Croydon and Reading Ecology Teams, including staff wellbeing, mentoring, career development, and line management. You will collaborate with senior leaders on utilisation, recruitment, training, and project resourcing. Your role will involve office-based work with some site involvement, applying your technical expertise to influence project design and delivery across all stages of the project lifecycle.

This position offers excellent career progression opportunities within a dynamic, client-focused environment committed to ecological excellence and sustainability. You will be part of a larger UK Ecology Team and benefit from a supportive, inclusive culture that values innovation and professional growth.

Experience
- Over seven years' experience in Ecological Consultancy or equivalent with transferable skills
- Proven project management skills
- Experience in people management is desirable
- Experience preparing costs and text for bids is advantageous
- Willingness to travel throughout the UK

About you
- Dynamic, proactive team player with strong communication skills
- Ability to effectively engage with multi-disciplinary teams, clients, and regulators
- Committed to supporting staff wellbeing, mentoring, and career development
- Strong report writing skills with experience acting as a checker/reviewer for ecological deliverables
- Technical specialism such as protected species mitigation licences or advanced botanical skills

Qualifications
- Degree in Ecology or a directly related subject (higher degree advantageous)
- Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) or equivalent
- Chartered Environmentalist, Chartered Ecologist, or Chartered Biologist status (or able to achieve within 6 months)
- Level 1 and 2 Bat Licence is desirable