Location
Central London (fully home working with site visits and meetings as required). Candidate ideally based in the south-east of the UK, including London, the home counties, southern and midlands regions.

Hours
Full Time (minimum 4 days a week considered - pro rata)

Salary
£40,000 per annum (commensurate with skills and experience)

About the Role
HCUK Group Ltd is seeking a Senior Ecologist to join our small, evolving multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy. This role combines project management and fieldwork to support clients navigating the planning and development process. You will lead and manage ecological assessments, habitat surveys, and ecological impact assessments, working with a network of subcontractors and undertaking field surveys including UK Habitat Classification and protected species scoping surveys, with a specialism in bat surveys. You will produce high-quality Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Ecological Impact Assessment reports, mitigation strategies, and Biodiversity Net Gain assessments in line with CIEEM guidelines.

The role offers a varied portfolio of projects across sectors such as mixed-use, residential, commercial developments, renewables, and heritage, with opportunities to collaborate with landscape, planning, and archaeology teams. The position is fully home-based except for site visits and meetings, with projects nationwide but primarily focused in London and surrounding regions. You will be responsible for growing and maintaining our framework of ecology subcontractors, client liaison, tendering, business development, and marketing involvement.

HCUK Group does not have a physical office but holds quarterly company meetings and social events in London. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your career within a supportive, friendly environment and help shape the future direction of our ecology offering.

Experience
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in commercial ecological consultancy.
- Proven project management and delivery experience.
- Proficient in ecological surveying techniques, data analysis, and report writing, especially PEA, bat surveys, and Biodiversity Net Gain assessments.
- Experience managing ecological projects through subcontractors.
- Good understanding of UK wildlife legislation, planning regulations, and environmental best practice.
- Full UK driving licence.
- Eligibility to work in the UK.

About You
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with clients and colleagues.
- Highly organised with a proactive approach and ability to manage varied workloads and tight deadlines.
- Able to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
- Commitment to delivering high-quality work with attention to detail.
- Enthusiastic about growing the ecology consultancy within a multi-disciplinary practice.

Qualifications
- Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, or related discipline.
- Full membership of CIEEM.
- Level 2 Licensed Bat Ecologist preferred, or Level 1 with commitment to progress to Level 2.
- Interest in managing bat-related projects and developing in-house EPSML offerings.

Desirable Skills and Experience
- Named as Accredited Agent or Ecologist on bat EPS licences.
- Strong focus on bats through survey, data analysis, licence applications, mitigation, and supervision.
- Established network of ecology consultants in your region.
- Specialism in botany.
- Master’s degree or PhD advantageous but not essential.
- Some GIS capability (support provided).