Location
Liverpool, with flexible hybrid working options across UK and Ireland offices including Basingstoke, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham, Cambridge, and Dublin.

Hours
Full Time - Flexible hybrid working model

About the Role
Join AECOM’s dynamic Nature team as a Principal Marine Ecologist and apply your expertise on national and international projects across diverse sectors including power and infrastructure schemes, floating offshore wind, interconnectors, habitat restoration, flood defence, and coastal developments such as marinas, jetties, slipways, wharfs, and ports. You will work alongside marine and aquatic ecologists and marine EIA specialists to support and grow the marine ecology team and portfolio of high-profile projects. This client-facing role involves technical project delivery, business development, and reporting to the Marine Ecology Lead.

Your responsibilities will include providing expert marine ecological and consenting advice, directing inputs across multiple workstreams, delivering marine ecology impact assessments (including ES chapters, HRA, MCZ, and WFD assessments), and supporting licence and permitting applications. You will ensure the highest quality standards in deliverables, tailoring complex scientific information for varied audiences. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams including underwater acoustics, coastal processes, water scientists, marine archaeologists, and EIA colleagues will be key to improving environmental outcomes.

Additionally, you will contribute to business development by preparing technical and fee proposals, marketing, client presentations, and liaison. Effective project management skills are essential, including resource and budget management, progress reporting, and subcontractor procurement. Mentoring and developing junior team members will also form a core part of your role.

At AECOM, you will benefit from career development opportunities, a flexible hybrid working model, technical practice networks, AECOM University, volunteering days, and a comprehensive range of personalised benefits designed to support your well-being and future.

Experience
- Comprehensive marine ecological expertise with demonstrable experience preparing and reviewing specialist technical chapters and associated impact assessments including EIA, HRA, MCZ, and WFD.
- Detailed understanding of UK marine consenting and licensing regimes with experience liaising with regulatory bodies such as MMO, NRW, Scottish MD, and The Crown Estate.
- Proven ability to provide technical advice and apply advanced scientific practices across diverse marine projects.
- Experience in team coordination, including line management and mentoring junior staff.
- Business development experience including preparing tenders and client presentations.

About you
Confident and client-focused with excellent communication skills, able to present complex scientific information clearly to different audiences. A collaborative team player who thrives in multidisciplinary environments and is motivated to contribute to business growth and team development. You are proactive in project management and committed to delivering high-quality outcomes.

We value diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you have transferable skills or meet some of the requirements, we welcome your interest.

Qualifications
Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience in marine ecology or related environmental science field. Project management training or accreditation is desirable but not essential.