Senior/Principal Consultant – Marine Ecologist

Affric Ltd is a young, successful and ambitious business based in the North of Scotland.  Affric provide professional environmental consultancy services, from feasibility to decommissioning to a range of sectors.  Affric has a small focused team which provides a friendly supportive working environment.  We work closely with our clients to offer a tailored service, to ensure successful project delivery.

The role

The role will be based primarily in the energy and infrastructure (ports and harbours) sectors providing marine ecology input as part of multidisciplinary teams to deliver projects from initial feasibility through planning, marine licencing, procurement, construction, operation and in some instances, to decommissioning. 

The starting position (Senior/Principal Consultant) and salary will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s previous experience.  Future progression is not limited, and will be determined by performance.  Relevant training opportunities to provide personal and professional development are available.

The role will include, but not limited to:

• Authoring reports and EIA Chapters;
• Managing EIAR Production;
• Environmental input into surveys, project design and procurement processes;
• Stakeholder management;
• Sub-contractor management; and
• Construction environmental management support.

The successful candidate will be based in the Affric Office near Inverness but will be expected to travel to meet client’s needs; this may include working away for a few days at a time.  The successful candidate is likely to be involved in supporting the development of harbours and energy projects around Scotland.

Qualifications / Experience

The successful candidate will have at least 4 years work experience, a can-do attitude, a practical mindset and be able to fit in with the team and be able to work on their own initiative. They will also:

• Have  degree (equivalent or higher) in marine ecology;
• Have an appropriate Institute Membership e.g. CIEMA or CIEEM;
• Ideally be a Chartered Environmentalist;
• Be a JNCC qualified marine mammal observer (MMO);
• Ideally have experience of Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) operations;
• Have an understanding of underwater acoustics in terms of anthropogenic sources;
• Have experience of EIAR chapter authoring;
• Bring a good working knowledge and understanding of Scottish Environmental Legislation, Policy and Guidance, including planning and marine licensing processes;
• Provide strong report writing, presentation and communication skills are essential;
• Hold a Full, clean UK manual driving license; and
• Will also bring at least three of the following specialisms:
  • GIS mapping expertise;
  • Experienced MMO/PAM operator;
  • Sub-contractor Management experience;
  • EIA management experience;
  • Construction Environmental Management Document authoring experience;
  • Public consultation and stakeholder experience;
  • Experience of undertaking an Environmental Clerk of Works role;
  • An understanding of engineering design phases;
  • An understanding of procurement processes; or
  • Marine construction site experience.

This unique role will provide extensive and varied professional development opportunities for the right candidate, with both desk and site-based experience.  The ideal candidate will be willing to get involved at all levels of operations and take responsibility of delivering tasks to the required standard and deadlines.  Given the dynamic nature of our client’s operations, flexible working will be necessary, but this can be arranged to the benefit of the candidate, client and business alike.

Benefits of Working for us:

• We are a close-knit, friendly and supportive team, with a supportive office atmosphere;
• External and internal training;
• 25 days annual leave plus public holidays;
• Pension scheme;
• Payment of professional membership fees; and
• Flexible working options and a healthy work-life balance encouraged.