Location
Cambridge, with travel to sites throughout the region including Oxford, Southampton, London, and Leeds. Some overnight stays may be required depending on project location and workload.

Hours
Full time, with flexibility and hybrid working options depending on project needs and team arrangements.

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
Tetra Tech is seeking a Senior Ecologist to join our high-performing ecology team delivering technically robust and commercially aware solutions across renewable energy, residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects throughout the UK. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to complex, high-profile projects supporting the transition to clean energy and sustainable development while developing your expertise across a varied and meaningful portfolio.

As Senior Ecologist, you will manage a portfolio of 4–6 ecological projects simultaneously, ensuring delivery in line with UK legislation, planning policy, and ecological best practice. You will work across sectors including Town and Country Planning Act developments and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, producing high-quality ecological outputs from survey and assessment through to mitigation and stakeholder engagement.

The role may include line management responsibilities and support for junior ecologists. It requires a combination of strong technical capability, commercial awareness, confidence in client-facing environments, and a collaborative approach to delivery.

Your work will directly support major schemes, maintain Tetra Tech’s reputation for quality and innovation, and help the team deliver timely, pragmatic ecological advice. You will also have the opportunity to mentor and develop future ecological talent.

Experience
- Sound knowledge of the UK planning system and relevant environmental legislation.
- Competent in UK Habitat Classification and habitat condition assessments.
- Ability to design and complete a range of ecological surveys and interpret findings.
- Experience delivering ecological mitigation, including protected species licensing and Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) support.
- Full UK driving licence, insured for business purposes.
- Willingness to travel regularly to sites across the region, including occasional overnight stays.

About you
- Strong technical expertise combined with commercial awareness.
- Confident in client-facing situations and stakeholder engagement.
- Collaborative team player with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- Committed to mentoring and developing junior colleagues.
- Flexible and adaptable to varied working environments including office, site, and client meetings.

Qualifications
- Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree in Ecology or a closely related field.
- Full CIEEM membership preferred.
- One or more protected species survey licences, with great crested newt and bats highly desirable.
- FISC Level 4 qualification is highly desirable but not essential.