Senior/ Principal Ecologist

We have exciting opportunities for Senior and Principal level ecologists to join a dynamic and rapidly expanding ecology team at Three Shires. The ecology practice is CIEEM Registered and has developed alongside the environmental contracting business that has been established since 1995 and has a solid track record of providing environmental contracting services across a wide range of sectors - particularly developers, utility and renewable energy companies and the transport sectors.

Your primary focus will be to support the development of the current ecology team and its expanding and increasing workload. You should be experienced in your current role and seeking a new challenge, or wanting to move on promotion, to develop your own skills and put experience into practice.

Our ecology business is based in the East Midlands, but with dispersed team members and other offices in Dorset, south Wales and the north-west of England. The company has a wide variety of experience that provides services throughout the UK to a range of clients, ensuring work is varied. Workload is expanding with exiting opportunities for integrated delivery of ecological mitigation alongside the creation of new and enhanced habitats as well as habitat and protected species surveys for rail, energy and housing. 

The Role:

To provide leadership, direction and technical expertise - delivering pragmatic advice and solutions with significant biodiversity gains in a dynamic client focussed and commercial environment. This will involve:

• Planning, leading and undertaking a wide range of ecological surveys from baseline habitat and BNG assessments to a full suite of protected species surveys
• Planning and leading desk studies, consultations, research, data management and analysis, and report writing
• Assessing levels of impacts and design of avoidance/mitigation/compensation and enhancements
• Producing and providing technical support guidance and checking of ecological reports - PEAR, Ecological Impact Assessments      (EcIA), 
• BNG accounting and assessments
• Inputting to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)/Environmental Statements (ES)
• Protected sites assessments –  assenting/consenting/HRA
• Protected species licensing
• Liaising with clients and statutory bodies
• Supporting bid activities by assisting with the drafting of proposals and quotes
• Mentoring and coaching of staff
• Managing projects to ensure that work is delivered on schedule and to the required budget and standards

We are looking for people that have a broad range of skills and experience and have, or be keen to develop, a wider perspective on ecological consultancy and recognise the wider environmental value of our work. The roles would also suit those with broader environmental backgrounds and knowledge. 

Requirements are flexible for the right person to fit our team, however candidates should ideally:

• Have a minimum of Full Membership of CIEEM for a principal role (or Associate Membership and working towards and be close to submitting for full, for a senior role)
• Be able to demonstrate levels of competency for habitat and species surveys at a minimum of capable and ideally accomplished against the criteria of the CIEEM skills framework.
• Hold at least one protected species survey licence
• Demonstrate experience of providing leadership and direction – effective survey planning, leadership and project delivery
• Have a high level of report writing skills
• Have delivered coaching/mentoring
• Must have a full UK driving licence and at least 2 years' driving experience

Salary and benefits:

Other benefits include – company vehicle, competitive salary, company pension scheme, flexible working hours, TOIL/overtime system, tailored training and development, support with professional development and memberships.

All candidates applying for positions with Three Shires Ltd must be eligible to work in the UK/European Economic Area.