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

Salary
Competitive salary 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, wharf and port projects. 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 project workstreams, delivering marine ecology impact assessments including Environmental Statements (ES), Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA), Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ), and Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments. 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.

In addition, you will contribute to business development through preparing technical and fee proposals, client presentations, and marketing activities. Effective project management including resource and budget oversight, subcontractor procurement, and progress reporting is essential. You will also mentor and develop junior team members, fostering a supportive and thriving environment.

At AECOM, you will benefit from career development opportunities, technical practice networks, AECOM University, volunteering days, and a flexible hybrid working model designed to support your work-life balance and well-being.

Experience
- Comprehensive marine ecological expertise with demonstrable experience preparing and reviewing specialist technical chapters and associated impact assessments (EIA, HRA, MCZ, 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 varied audiences. Collaborative team player with a critical eye for quality and detail. Motivated to contribute to business growth and team development. Enthusiastic about working in a multidisciplinary environment and mentoring colleagues.

Qualifications
Relevant academic and professional qualifications in marine ecology or related disciplines. Project management skills with willingness to undertake AECOM accredited Project Management training. Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and environmental, social and governance priorities.