Senior Ecological Consultant (Terrestrial)

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Job description

Role Title: Senior Ecological Consultant (Terrestrial)

Location: Flexible (Office or Home based) - Bristol and London

Salary: 26,000 - 35,000

About Ricardo

Ricardo Energy & Environment is a leading sustainability consultancy combining energy, climate change, environmental and chemical risk expertise with strong IT and economics capability. Operating across the world, we work in partnership with our customers to help transform the way they work, empowering business leaders with award winning consultancy advice. With unrivalled sector insight and a reputation for producing innovative solutions, we offer a stimulating and rewarding environment in which to work.

The Water & Environment practice of Ricardo Energy & Environment offers a comprehensive range of specialist services within the environmental consultancy sector. Nationally and internationally recognised for our expertise in planning and overseeing complex and sensitive projects, our skills have been utilised by a wide range of clients within the public and private sectors including the European Commission, government, water companies and developers.

Purpose:

Our Water & Environment practice has a strong project portfolio and we are looking for an experienced Terrestrial Ecologist at Senior Consultant grade to join our team. You will join colleagues in providing technical support on a variety of ecology projects, across a wide range of clients in the water, developer, infrastructure and public sectors. You will be expected to contribute as part of a wider national team, working closely with colleagues in Manchester, Bristol, Harwell and London in particular.

The position offers a diverse role, supporting projects and clients across the UK, and occasionally beyond. Experience in Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA) and Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA) would be an advantage, whilst also carrying out projects encompassing both a biodiversity (including Biodiversity Net Gain) and protected species/habitat focus.

Key accountabilities:

* Your role will involve project management and implementation of ecological assessments, plus the coordination of associated surveys, consultation and mitigation in support of our clients' proposals and operations.
* You will be involved in managing the technical work of more junior staff and sub-consultants and (depending on experience) managing projects and their direction too. There will also be team leadership opportunities as the team expands.
* The nature of the role and the dynamic of the team provides a wealth of opportunities to explore your interests and carry out a range of tasks and functions within terrestrial ecology, as well as a range of related disciplines.
* There is also a degree of flexibility over which facets of the role you become most invested in: be it a more technical focus; project management; developing bids and tenders; or, a more generalist role.

Key competencies and experience:

* In depth knowledge of UK and EU Wildlife Legislation, planning policies, licensing requirements and best practice survey techniques;
* Capable at leading PEA, EcIA and HRA; WRMP options appraisal understanding and/or experience would be an advantage;
* Experience of working on large infrastructure or development projects
* Leading, planning and co-ordinating field surveys, analysing and interpreting survey results and planning and co-ordinating ecological mitigation works;
* Multiple protected species survey licences (ideally in both England and Wales)
* Experience of applying for and holding licenses for protected species mitigation/conservation
* Experience of writing thorough and complex reports and assessments, such as HRA stages 1 - 4 and Environmental Statement chapters
* A track-record of successful project management
* Experience in the preparation of ecology proposals and tenders
* A chartered member of a professional body (e.g. CEnv or CEcol)
* Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills; be able to produce meticulous and accurate technical reports as well as communicate confidently with a variety of clients and stakeholders
* Be organised with proven ability to multi-task and handle several projects simultaneously

Desirable experience

* Have experience of leading and motivating a team of both site and office based staff;
* Have a proven work winning track record, experience of preparing bids and tenders and generating new business opportunities;
* Mentoring junior colleagues;
* Building client relationships and generating opportunities;
* Preparing bids and managing project budgets; and
* Collaborating with our multi-disciplinary teams within the region.

Skills and behaviours:

* A self-starter, as you'll be part of a small and very busy team. Excellent team working skills are therefore essential together with strong communication skills, sound understanding of ecological impact assessment and a close attention to detail.
* Whilst fieldwork skills are needed for this role, there will be a large component of office-based coordination, data analysis, client contact and report writing.
* This is a fast-paced and challenging environment offering you the opportunity to make your mark. You will have support from the wider business for your career to develop into a wide range of future opportunities within Ricardo Energy & Environment.

Working here:

This is an exciting and rewarding place to work, with the opportunity to make a difference. You will have a fantastic opportunity to develop your career with us through our broad range of projects, mentoring opportunities and a personalised approach to your learning and development.

We are always keen to hear from people who have driven, ambition and a flair for innovative thinking. Ricardo Energy & Environment has an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach as explained here.

Our People are important to us and we take pride in our wellbeing programmes and policies that support individuals including flexible working, carers policy, mental health first aiders and readily available support through our extensive Employee Assistance programme.

Once you have submitted your application a member of our Recruitment Team will be in touch. Please be aware that the timing can vary dependent on the volume of applications that we receive for each role and in some cases, we may start to review applications prior to the closing date.