Senior/Principal Ecologist

To meet our growing project workload and help us design and apply new approaches to our work, we are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Senior or Principal Ecologist to join our Epsom office and become a part of the London and Southeast Ecology Practice.

At AtkinsRéalis, our team of over 140 ecologists work throughout the UK to deliver a diverse range of challenging and exciting award-winning projects that benefit our clients, biodiversity and society. Our ecology team won the inaugural CIEEM Large-Scale Consultancy of the Year Award in 2018 and has been Highly Commended in the same award category each year thereafter.

We are proud to promote innovative nature-based solutions across a range of market sectors, collaborating with clients to positively contribute to the carbon net zero agenda and biodiversity and climate emergencies. We are particularly passionate about the implementation of biodiversity net gain on our projects and have placed ourselves at the forefront of this approach.

We positively encourage pushing boundaries, promoting innovation, knowledge sharing and working inclusively across our diverse team. We are fully committed to promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We want everyone to feel respected, empowered and able to realise their full potential as important members of our team.

Flexible working is a core part of our culture at AtkinsRéalis, and we appreciate that different people have different priorities. We recognise that a healthy work/life balance is integral to wellbeing, and we are extremely supportive of individual requirements for flexible working. The ideal candidate would be looking to work in a hybrid manner, based out of the AtkinsRéalis Epsom office.

Joining us, you will have the opportunity to contribute to nationally significant and high-profile projects, with many of our projects winning awards for biodiversity enhancements, innovation, and knowledge sharing.

Your Purpose:

• Leading on nationally important infrastructure projects, managing project programmes and budgets.
• Collaborating with our multi-disciplinary teams and undertaking stakeholder engagement.
• Planning and undertaking field surveys; analysing and interpreting survey results.
• Designing and co-ordinating ecological mitigation.
• Authoring and checking/reviewing a range of ecological reports and licence applications.
• Providing support and mentorship to other team members, particularly early careers staff.
• Managing work enquiries, preparing bids and building client relationships.
• Building and maintain strong working relationships with team, colleagues, clients and external bodies.
• Supporting the development of a portfolio of ecological work in the Southern region, by building a network with both internal and external clients within the South England region and UK-wide.

What you can bring:

• Ideally, you would have the following qualifications/experience:
• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), or equivalent, and chartership (CEcol or CEnv). AtkinsRéalis to cover membership costs.
• A degree in ecology or a closely related field (desirable but not essential).
• Demonstrable project management experience including technical, financial and quality assurance aspects.
• Strong botanical skills, including Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) level 4+, or demonstrable botanical ability matching this level.
• Strong working knowledge and experience of UK Habitat survey, habitat condition assessments, and the Defra Biodiversity Metric. Demonstrable experience of undertaking Biodiversity Net Gain assessments.
• Strong skills in report writing, including preparing Preliminary Ecological Assessments, Ecological Impact Assessments, Biodiversity Chapters for Ecological Impact Assessments and Habitats Regulations Assessment (including Appropriate Assessment).
• Experience of undertaking quality assurance and technical lead roles for projects.
• Demonstrable experience of working on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and familiarity with the Development Consent Order (DCO) process, including expert witness, would be viewed favourably.
• Protected species survey licence(s).
• A full, clean UK driving licence.

Why work for AtkinsRéalis? 

We're ranked as one of LinkedIn's Top 25 Companies, where UK professionals want to work and stay once, they join. We've also made the Times Top 50 employers for women. 

Our Infrastructure team uses innovation, new approaches and the power of data to help our clients deliver end-to-end projects and programmes for essential future infrastructure. And as the work becomes ever more complex, our employees continue to challenge the status quo. 

We're committed to engineering better for people and our planet, from our global Engineering Net-Zero programme to creating social value through EDAROTH community housing. We're proud of our active employee networks creating awareness and allyship for our under-represented groups. Not to mention programmes supporting communities outside AtkinsRéalis, including schools, charities, ex-forces and professionals returning after career breaks. 

Security clearance: 

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance.  If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance. 

We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop. To help embed inclusion for all, from day one, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. 

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