The Ecology Consultancy (TEC) 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.
The Ecology Consultancy has developed a sound reputation for delivering objective, high quality work to clients in the private, public and voluntary sectors and along with its sister environmental consultancy Temple, it forms part of Temple Group. Our principal areas of work are habitat and protected species surveys, watching brief and Ecological Clerk of Works, Ecological Impact Assessment, and Code for Sustainable Homes and BREEAM assessments, as well as providing training and advice, on a wide range of projects from major infrastructure projects such as HS2 to single dwellings and barn conversions.
We are passionate about what we do and strive to create a friendly and supportive working environment and are developing a structured programme to assist staff in their career progression.
The role
The Ecology Consultancy is committed to continued success in the coming years and is seeking experienced Senior/Principal Ecologists to share our journey.
We are continuing to secure significant amounts of ecological work on Major Projects across the UK, including all phases of the HS2 project. We have had a lead role on various aspects of HS2 since its inception and it continues to demand our expertise and drive our business forward. Ideally the candidates will be based in the Midlands or London but other locations would also be considered.
The Senior/Principal Ecologists will help to competently manage and successfully deliver our current and future Major Project responsibilities. The role will require a focus on delivering high quality ecological consultancy services for our clients, and in helping us to build on current successes to achieve the objectives set out in the business plan. The role will therefore involve the following responsibilities:
- Leadership – to take a shared responsibility for the team’s success, ensuring accountability for every task is understood at all grades. It is important to TEC that this is achieved in a productive and enjoyable atmosphere that reflects our values.
- Management - to oversee a busy and varied team of office-based and field staff, chair regular meetings (both internally and externally), manage and facilitate other regular communications, and drive team objectives including but not limited to setting utilisation targets, encouraging positive views of health and safety and organising regular social events.
- Communication – fulfilling the expectation of our Major Project clients by developing excellent relationships and providing regular guidance, updates and support at all stages of the project. It is likely that you will represent the client in design or stakeholder meetings, liaise with other environmental disciplines and help the client with finance, contract and safety requirements. It may also be necessary to act as an interface with ecologists within the client’s team.
- Wellbeing, Health and Safety – supporting your team by encouraging a friendly and safe working environment, facilitating a proactive and positive safety conscious team, managing incident reporting and equipment use and monitoring staff hours and wellbeing during the busier periods.
- Finances - you will be responsible for administering the financial management systems provided by the client. This will include the provision of accurate budgets, development and attendance at meetings and ensuring the team are resilient and are being financially responsible.
- Technical - contributing to and providing expert advice during the planning and production of ESPM documents, Environmental and Ecological Impact Assessment, Habitat Regulation Assessments, Mitigation design, technical scope and method documentation, GIS and data management and responses, as required by the client.
- Quality – attention to detail and accuracy are key in order to ensure the delivery of contracts on time and within budget, as well as maintaining the high standards that TEC has established over the years.
- Field Work - to undertake site based work, as required, including site based quality and safety reviews of your own teams work as well as overseeing Ecological Clerk of Works and the site based vegetation and ground work contracts that we are responsible for.
Additional requirements and preferences
Essential
- Degree and / or post graduate qualification in relevant discipline;
- Full or chartered member of CIEEM (or to have eligibility if not currently held);
- Experience in the ecological consultancy industry;
- Experience of managing large scale infrastructure projects and teams inclusive of financial management;
- Knowledge of the statutory licensing process and the implementation of mitigation;
- Ideally with technical expertise (e.g. habitats, protected species or project management);
- Extremely well organised with an ability to multitask;
- Excellent oral and written communication and ability to proactively initiate tasks.
Desirable
- A licence and/or experience in advising on mitigation for at least one protected species;
- Have experience in organising and holding ecological training sessions to peers, and or clients;
- Experience as, or managing Ecological Clerk of Works;
- A valid CSCS card.
What do we offer?
- Salary on a scale commensurate with experience from £27,520.00 - £42,000.00 (plus £2,000 London weighting for London based roles);
- 25 days Annual leave;
- Structured and generous career development and training budget (The Orchard);
- Socials, games nights, volunteering days through our staff engagement and development initiative (PASE);
- Flextime, working from home and Time Off In Lieu;
- Flexible working location;
- Auto enrolment pension scheme (after 3 months service).
Applications (your CV and a covering letter) should be emailed to: careers@ecologyconsultancy.co.uk or posted to The Ecology Consultancy, Tempus Wharf, 33a Bermondsey Wall West, London, SE16 4TQ
Deadline for applications is Friday 30th March 2018.
