Location
Croydon, 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 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 diverse audiences. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams including underwater acoustics, coastal processes, water scientists, marine archaeologists, and EIA colleagues will be key.

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

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

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.
- Proven ability to provide technical advice applying advanced scientific practices and technologies 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 support team growth and project success. You are proactive in business development and effective in project management, with a commitment to quality and continuous improvement.

Qualifications
Relevant academic qualifications in marine ecology or related disciplines are expected. Professional development in project management and marine consenting is advantageous. A commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and the ability to work flexibly within a hybrid model are essential.