Location
Belfast office, located on the edge of the city with on-site parking, strong public transport connections and easy access to major road networks.

Hours
Hybrid working with an expectation of two to three days per week in the office to facilitate mentoring, collaboration and team coordination. Flexible working arrangements can be accommodated where project responsibilities allow.

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
Tetra Tech is seeking a Principal Ecologist to join our Planning & Environmental team, leading ecological, environmental and planning project inputs across the UK and Ireland. Based in a large, permanently desked office, this role offers the opportunity to shape ecological strategies, provide technical oversight and ensure ecological considerations are fully integrated into project design, assessment and delivery. You will author, review and quality-assure high-level assessments including Ecological Impact Assessments, Habitat Regulations Assessments and ecology chapters for Environmental Statements, ensuring outputs meet regulatory expectations and reflect best practice.

You will advise clients directly, supporting early-stage feasibility, guiding survey strategies and providing proportionate recommendations balancing ecological protection with project viability. As a visible leader within the ecology team, you will contribute to business development, mentor colleagues across levels and help shape a high-performing, collaborative team culture.

This senior role allows you to influence project outcomes by identifying ecological risks early, collecting scientifically robust evidence and realising nature-positive opportunities. Your leadership will help clients navigate complex regulatory frameworks and achieve planning success through transparent, defensible and proportionate ecological solutions. You will support a culture of high-quality science, effective communication and reliable project delivery, while developing the next generation of ecological specialists and strengthening Tetra Tech's ecology services across the UK and Ireland.

The multidisciplinary environment provides exposure to a wide range of significant projects including marine, coastal, regeneration and renewable-related developments.

Experience
Significant experience delivering and overseeing ecological components of complex projects. Proven technical leadership in habitat classification, ecological impact assessment, protected species legislation and mitigation design. Experience designing complex survey programmes, reviewing advanced ecological analyses and authoring or approving high-level technical reports. Experience applying the Biodiversity Metric and delivering Biodiversity Net Gain solutions. Experience liaising with statutory consultees such as Natural England and local authorities. Proven project leadership managing multiple complex projects, overseeing technical inputs and multidisciplinary teams. Familiarity with UK environmental legislation, planning frameworks and regulatory pathways for protected species and habitat protection. Experience preparing mitigation licences for species such as bats, great crested newts, dormice, badgers and water voles.

About you
Clear, confident and persuasive communicator able to translate ecological complexity into concise, accessible advice. Strong leadership, influencing and collaboration skills. Proactive, solutions-focused approach with attention to detail, reliability and strategic oversight. Ability to build strong relationships and present evidence-based recommendations. Organised with strong written, verbal and organisational skills. Willingness to travel with occasional overnight stays. Full UK driving licence required.

Qualifications
Degree in ecology or related environmental discipline. Full member of CIEEM or working at an equivalent senior level. Hold at least one protected species licence, with great crested newts or bats particularly desirable. FISC Level 4 advantageous but not essential.