Principal/Senior Ecologist

Description

Principal/Senior Ecologist

Location: Manchester (covering the North West of England)

Job Type: Permanent

Salary: £40000

Service Care Solutions are recruiting on behalf of a growing environmental consultancy for an experienced Principal or Senior Ecologist to join their expanding team based in Manchester, supporting projects across the North West of England.

Due to continued business growth and an increasing pipeline of exciting projects, our client is seeking a motivated ecology professional with strong technical expertise, project management capability, and a passion for delivering high-quality ecological services across a diverse range of sectors including residential, commercial, industrial, education, and infrastructure.

The Role

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced ecologist looking to take the next step in their career within a supportive and ambitious consultancy environment.

The successful candidate will lead and manage ecology projects from inception through to completion, providing technical expertise across a range of ecological disciplines while supporting the continued growth and development of the ecology team.

The role will involve working on challenging and varied projects, with responsibilities spanning technical delivery, client management, mentoring junior staff, and contributing to wider business development activities.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and deliver complex ecology projects across the North West

Manage projects from initial client liaison through to completion

Undertake and review ecological surveys and technical reports including:

Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEA)

Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA)

Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA)

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments

Advise on mitigation, compensation, habitat enhancement, and management strategies

Apply and advise on UK wildlife legislation, planning policy, and BNG requirements

Use the DEFRA Statutory Biodiversity Metric where applicable

Provide Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) support when required

Mentor and support Assistant and Junior Ecologists

Contribute to fee proposals, tenders, and business development opportunities

Maintain high standards of quality assurance and health & safety compliance

Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, planners, and stakeholdersEssential Requirements

Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related discipline

Minimum 5 years’ ecology consultancy experience

Full membership of CIEEM (MCIEEM)

Strong understanding of UK wildlife legislation and planning policy

Experience delivering ecological assessments and technical reporting

Proven project management and client-facing experience

Experience with Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments and strategies

Excellent communication and organisational skills xjnqpsq

Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team

Full UK driving licenceDesirable Experience

Protected species licences (bats, great crested newts, badgers, dormice, otters etc.)

Natural England Class 2 Bat Licence

Habitat Regulations Assessment experience

GIS experience

Staff mentoring or line management experience

EcIA and Environmental Statement chapter writing experienceWhat is on Offer

Competitive salary package

Excellent career progression opportunities

Supportive and collaborative working environment

Opportunity to work on a broad range of high-profile projects

Ongoing professional development and training

Flexible working opportunities

Company benefits package

If you are an experienced Ecologist looking for your next opportunity within a growing consultancy, apply today with your CV or contact Prakash at Service Care Solutions by emailing (url removed) or calling (phone number removed)

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