Principal / Associate Ecologist
Bristol, Cardiff & Manchester

Our client is seeking an experienced Principal or Associate Ecologist to join their friendly, established ecology team. This role can be based from their Manchester, Bristol or Cardiff office with the ability for hybrid working as part of the working week.

The ecology team is passionate about creating opportunities for wildlife and people to thrive together, through a broad range of projects and established client base.

With established teams in Bristol, Manchester & Cardiff, our client supports a huge range of projects, at local and national levels. They are enthusiastic about finding new ways to apply emerging ecological principals and methods to the most challenging of policy and development projects, and we have fun working together along the way.

The ecology team offers a wide range of exciting projects, providing team members with the opportunity to work on biodiversity led design schemes, often working closely with planning authorities, landscape managers and architects, for renewable energy, residential, commercial, research and development projects across a number of sectors, that consider ecological enhancement at a landscape scale.

Key elements of the role:

• The successful candidate will be capable of managing a wide range of ecology projects, but with a particular focus on project management of HRA, at both the plan and project level
• Winning new work and managing established client relationships, through both formal tendering processes and pursuing business development opportunities
• Remaining up to date with the latest approaches, best practice guidance, policy and relevant case law and maintaining a record of CPD. Again, with a particular focus on key issues within HRA such as approaches to nutrient neutrality, air quality assessment, recreational pressures and the importance of functionally linked land
• Managing and mentoring less experienced colleagues and contributing to team-wide training and development initiatives
• Exploring innovation and opportunities to improve ecological practices such as technological developments and survey technique

About you:

The successful candidate will complement our existing enthusiastic and dedicated ecology team. You will share our commitment to high quality science and be motivated to help grow and develop our business, as an equal partner.

Experience and qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level or with equivalent level of skills and knowledge
• Appropriate professional qualification (e.g. CIEEM) at a relevant level
• Demonstrable knowledge of a range of ecological taxa, survey methods and assessment types
• Demonstrable knowledge and a proven track record of successfully delivering HRA at the plan and/or project level. This should include an awareness of the key pressures facing the UKs National Site Network, such as air pollution, recreational pressures, impacts to functionally linked land and changes in water quality. We would also expect a good understanding of the strategic measures currently being adopted to address these issues
• Experience of stakeholder engagement, negotiation and client liaison, including contributing to productive discussions between planning authorities, developers and consultees
• Experience of line management and team development
• Demonstrable work-winning and business development skills
• Experienced project manager with the ability to manage ecological consultancy projects (at any scale)
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and time, using initiative and excellent communication, report writing and numeracy skills

Desirable

• Current protected species licence(s)
• Experience of presenting evidence or providing support at planning appeal and/or examination in public
• A good understanding of undertaking biodiversity net gain (BNG) assessments, including field survey and desk based assessments
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, particularly Word and Excel

For further information on this or any other related positions do not hesitate to contact Peter on 07881788772 or peter@huphuphup.com

Our industry knowledge ensures a unique, valued and specialist service. We actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community and offer every assurance that your application will be handled with the highest levels of professionalism. For Further Information on Hup Consulting visit www.huphuphup.com