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Our Client, a leading design & engineering consultancy, is seeking a Senior or Principal Ecologist to join their team in the Epsom/London area.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in ecology, with a strong passion for implementing biodiversity net gain, supporting the carbon net-zero agenda, and contributing to innovative nature-based solutions across a variety of market sectors.

Experience Required for Senior Ecologist:

- Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), or equivalent, and chartership (CEcol or CEnv). The client to cover membership costs.

- A degree in ecology or a closely related field (desirable but not essential).

- Demonstrable project management experience including technical, financial and quality assurance aspects.

- Strong botanical skills, including Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) level 4+, or demonstrable botanical ability matching this level.

- Strong working knowledge and experience of UK Habitat survey, habitat condition assessments, and the Defra Biodiversity Metric.

- Demonstrable experience of undertaking Biodiversity Net Gain assessments.

- Strong skills in report writing, including preparing Preliminary Ecological Assessments, Ecological Impact Assessments, Biodiversity Chapters for Ecological Impact Assessments and Habitats Regulations Assessment (including Appropriate Assessment).

- Experience of undertaking quality assurance and technical lead roles for projects. - Demonstrable experience of working on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and familiarity with the Development Consent Order (DCO) process, including expert witness, would be viewed favourably.

- Protected species survey licence(s).

- A full, clean UK driving licence.

Responsibilities for Senior Ecologist:

- Leading on nationally important infrastructure projects, managing project programmes and budgets.

- Collaborating with their multi-disciplinary teams and undertaking stakeholder engagement.

- Planning and undertaking field surveys; analysing and interpreting survey results.

- Designing and co-ordinating ecological mitigation.

- Authoring and checking/reviewing a range of ecological reports and licence applications.

- Providing support and mentorship to other team members, particularly early careers staff.

- Managing work enquiries, preparing bids and building client relationships.

- Building and maintain strong working relationships with team, colleagues, clients and external bodies.

- Supporting the development of a portfolio of ecological work in the Southern region, by building a network with both internal and external clients within the South England region and UK-wide