Location
Croydon or London, UK

Hours
Full Time

About the Role
Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across diverse global industries, delivering impactful projects that shape the future and benefit communities worldwide. Our people power our performance, and we offer countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow. Whether you want to deepen your expertise or broaden your experience internationally, you will be supported by global specialists who champion your success. As an employee-owned business, we invest in creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels empowered and valued.

Environmental and social considerations are central to our purpose and offerings. Our environment and social business provides essential services and innovative solutions anticipating client needs across all sectors. We are leading the way in Nature Services and seek passionate ecologists to join our Ecology Team to integrate nature into developments and build a better future.

The Croydon Ecology Team consists of 8 members, working on a diverse range of projects including flood defence schemes, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) strategies and implementation, specialist species surveys, and landscape scale planning for nature recovery. Projects include key infrastructure such as the Lower Thames Crossing, NHS hospital biodiversity improvements, water treatment and flood management nature-based solutions, and Environment Agency schemes.

As Principal Ecologist and Regional Deputy Team Lead, you will primarily be office-based with some site involvement in your technical area. You will support staff wellbeing, mentoring, and career development for the Croydon and Reading Ecology Teams, line managing some members. Working closely with the Regional Lead, Area Leader, and UK Ecology Team Leader, you will manage team utilisation, recruitment, training, and appointments. You will lead regular team briefings to ensure effective communication and management.

Your projects will span all stages from design conception to implementation, allowing you to influence scheme design, enhancements, and promote best practice. This role suits a dynamic, proactive team player eager to contribute to a growing business area and deliver high-quality ecology services in a fast-paced, client-focused environment. Excellent career progression opportunities exist within the wider ecology team.

Experience
- Over seven years' experience in Ecological Consultancy or equivalent 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
- Strong report writing skills with experience acting as a checker/reviewer for ecological deliverables
- Commitment to staff wellbeing, mentoring, and career development
- Technical specialism such as protected species mitigation licences or advanced botanical skills

Qualifications
- Degree in Ecology or 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