Ecologist – Staffordshire

The Ecology Consultancy was established in 1999 and is now one of the largest dedicated consultancies owned and run by ecologists in the country. We are passionate about what we do and our staff enjoy working in a friendly and supportive environment. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work, our ability to influence scheme design for the benefit of biodiversity and enjoy working closely with our clients’ design teams.

Our relaxed company character, investment in people and focus on business responsibility has seen continual annual growth, the past year being no different with staff numbers and turnover both increasing. We compete and succeed at all levels of the market, from managing the smallest local development to acting as lead consultants on nationally significant infrastructure projects including Recently we opened two new offices, and reviewed our management processes to improve their use specifically for ecologists,

We encourage continuing personal development and career progression and have invested heavily in our new employee-led, development, up-skilling and mentoring programme – The Orchard, which provides staff with a personalised roadmap for professional progression. The programme aims to enhance employee’s work based and personal skills through a diverse range of structured opportunities, including e-learning, job sharing and shadowing, volunteering, training, and conferences and seminars; as well as ensuring that the services we provide remain of the highest industry standard.

The Ecology Consultancy and its staff also benefit from the strong relationship with our sister company Temple Group, specialists in EIA, noise, air, sustainability and planning. We have worked closely with Temple for over a decade and frequently share ideas, opportunities and resources.

The Role

We are seeking to employ an experienced Ecologist initially on a temporary contract to work within our Lichfield Office, with potential to extend to a permanent position.

We are looking for a confident, enthusiastic and experienced team player who has both a personal interest and professional experience in ecology as well as a desire to extend that knowledge. Under the direction of our team leader, the Ecologist will be required to lead surveys and manage individual contracts, in order to deliver high quality ecological consultancy services within budget and to meet deadlines. This may involve: liaising with clients, other consultants and consultees; acquiring data from third parties; organising and supervising other Ecology Consultancy staff and sub-contractors; preparing maps and writing high quality reports. The Ecologist will also assist with the general running of the office, in co-operation with other staff based there, and help with the marketing and promotion of the company.

The project based nature of our work means that there will be a requirement to undertake such travel as is necessary to successfully carry out contracts and a willingness to work antisocial hours and stay overnight within reason, where necessary.

Person specification

Essential

• An appropriate degree qualification.
• Associate or full membership of the CIEEM, minimum of three years employment in consultancy or other relevant work.
• Excellent fieldwork and report writing skills.
• Excellent knowledge of UK and relevant European environmental legislation.
• Proven project management experience.
• Bat survey licence (level 2), or to be close to attaining this, and be competent at Preliminary Roost Assessments, emergence / re-entry surveys, activity transects and advising on mitigation.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable

• Botanical identification skills to equivalent of FISC level 3/4 or higher www.bsbi.org.uk/Botanical_Skills_Pyramid.pdf
• Bat sound analysis skills;
• Bird survey experience;
• Experience with protected species groups and/or EPSM licensing;
• Experience in EcIA and mitigation methodologies; and
• Survey/handling licences such as great crested newts and dormice.

What do we offer?

• A 6-7 month contract from April-October initially;
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience;
• 25 days holiday plus public holidays (pro rata for length of service);
• Staff support/mentoring;
• Annual training budget; and
• Flexitime and TOIL.

Applications (Your CV and a covering letter) must be received by Friday 17 March 2017 and emailed to: midlands@ecologyconsultancy.co.uk or posted to The Ecology Consultancy, 9 The Mews, Trent Park, Eastern Avenue, Lichfield WS13 6RN.

For more information on the company see: www.ecologyconsultancy.co.uk

The Ecology Consultancy aims to promote equality of opportunity, dignity and due respect for all employees and clients as is consistent with the company’s Equalities Policy.