Location
Bury St Edmunds

Hours
Full Time - Flexible, hybrid and agile working available

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
SLR Consulting Limited is a global leader in sustainability solutions, committed to helping clients achieve their sustainability goals through a collaborative, people-first culture. Due to continued growth within our successful Ecology business, we are seeking an experienced Senior Ecologist to join our established team delivering high-profile projects across the UK and Ireland. Based in Bury St Edmunds, this role will primarily focus on renewable energy, infrastructure and residential development projects, with additional exposure to a wide range of commercial developments spanning renewables, infrastructure, industrial and built environment sectors.

As a Senior Ecologist, you will play a key role in the delivery and management of ecological projects, working closely with clients, project teams and multidisciplinary colleagues. Your responsibilities will include managing ecological projects from inception to completion, supporting team leads with resource planning, programme management and financial budgets, producing and reviewing ecological appraisals, Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIAs), Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRAs), licence applications and other technical reports. You will build and maintain strong client relationships, mentor and develop junior ecologists, undertake ecological surveys as required, support fee proposal preparation and contribute to business development activities. Collaboration with planners, archaeologists, arboriculturists, landscape architects, engineers and other environmental specialists on multidisciplinary projects is a key aspect of this role.

SLR’s ‘One Team’ culture fosters a collaborative and supportive environment where people can develop and grow. We offer a structured career framework, regular performance reviews and support towards chartership, professional qualifications and licences. Our flexible benefits and reward package includes a competitive salary with discretionary bonus, company pension, private medical insurance, life, income and travel insurance, salary sacrifice car lease and cycle-to-work schemes, volunteering and community giving, 25 days’ annual leave plus flexible public holidays, buy or sell leave options, core working hours, cross-border remote working and sabbatical opportunities, enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave pay, workplace nursery benefit, Employee Assistance Programme and specialist support for mental health, stress and menopause.

Experience
- Demonstrable experience in ecological consultancy with the ability to lead projects and mentor colleagues
- Experience managing ecological projects and delivering work to standards required by planning authorities, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and other statutory consultees
- Experience preparing a wide range of technical reports including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIAs), Environmental Statement Chapters and Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRAs)
- Experience preparing and submitting protected species and mitigation licence applications
- At least one protected species survey licence; a bat licence is advantageous
- Strong knowledge of UK and European ecological legislation, policy and guidance
- Strong technical reporting, project management and stakeholder engagement skills
- Experience working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams including planners, archaeologists, arboriculturists, landscape architects and engineers

About you
- Qualifying Member (or higher) status with CIEEM
- A degree in Ecology or a related environmental discipline
- A driving licence permitting legal driving in the UK and access to a vehicle for site visits
- Strong client relationship management and business development skills
- Enthusiastic about mentoring and developing junior ecologists
- Adaptable to role requirements and able to work within a flexible, hybrid working environment

Qualifications
- Degree in Ecology or related environmental discipline
- Qualifying Member or higher status with CIEEM
- Protected species survey licence(s), ideally including bat licence