Location
Offices across the UK and Ireland including Basingstoke, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham, Cambridge, and Dublin with a flexible hybrid working model.

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Competitive and commensurate with experience

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 port developments. You will work alongside marine and aquatic ecologists and marine EIA specialists to support the growth of the marine ecology team and expand our 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 Environmental Statements (ES), Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA), Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ), Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments, and supporting licence and permitting applications. You will ensure the highest quality standards in deliverables, tailoring complex scientific information for diverse audiences.

Collaboration is key as you will work within multidisciplinary teams including underwater acoustics, coastal processes, water science, marine archaeology, and EIA specialists to enhance environmental outcomes. 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 junior team members and fostering a supportive environment for professional growth will also be a vital part of your role. AECOM offers career development opportunities, a flexible hybrid working model, technical practice networks, and a range of personalised benefits designed to support your well-being and work-life balance.

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

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

Qualifications
A relevant degree or higher qualification in marine ecology, environmental science, or a related discipline is expected. Professional accreditation or membership of relevant ecological or environmental bodies is desirable.