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

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Competitive salary package (not specified)

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 (such as floating offshore wind), interconnectors, habitat restoration, flood defence, and coastal developments (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 expand our portfolio of high-profile marine 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, and 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 diverse audiences.

Collaboration is key, working with multidisciplinary teams including underwater acoustics, coastal processes, water scientists, marine archaeologists, and EIA colleagues to improve environmental outcomes. You will contribute to business development through preparing technical and fee proposals, marketing, client presentations, and liaison.

Effective project management is essential, including resource and budget management, progress reporting, and subcontractor procurement. You will also mentor and develop junior team members, fostering a supportive environment for growth.

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

Experience
- Comprehensive marine ecological expertise with 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 applying advanced scientific practices across diverse marine projects.
- Experience in team coordination, including line management and mentoring junior staff.
- Business development experience including tender preparation 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 commitment to quality and environmental outcomes. Motivated to support and grow a marine ecology team and contribute to business growth.

Qualifications
Relevant academic and professional qualifications in marine ecology or related disciplines are expected. AECOM welcomes applicants with transferable skills and values diversity and inclusion in all forms.