Principal Ecologist

Mott MacDonald

We’re a global engineering, management, and development consultancy. 
Our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do, relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities. 

A fundamental part of this is respecting each person’s differences and striving to meet their needs. 

We are proud to be a one of Glassdoor’s top employers to work for in the UK, as well as being recognised as a Top Inclusive Company in the UK.

Our values: Progress, Respect, Integrity, Drive, Excellence. 

About the division 

Environmental and social considerations are central to Mott MacDonald’s Purpose and its offerings across all sectors and territories. Our environment and social business provides essential services and innovative solutions which anticipate our clients' needs across all sectors. 

Overview of role

We are seeking someone who enjoys working in a close-knit team but large team. You will be passionate about using your experience and knowledge for professional excellence, leading the team in the development of solutions both in-team and for our wide range of clients. You will contribute to the growth and development of our people, our environment business across our ecology practice which comprises over 120 ecologists. You will enjoy rising to a challenge, finding ways that enhancing biodiversity will add value for our customers, using and promoting innovative technology and above all, maintaining high professional standards and quality. Most importantly you will be helping us to build a lasting and sustainable environmental business.

No day is the same in Mott MacDonald, we thrive to give our ecologists a mixed experience of projects and tasks and challenge you to achieve the best of your ability. This ensures that we maximise your opportunities and training that develops your skills and our business. Whether it is on site or in the office, you will be working as part of our team and working with ecologists covering all levels of experience and also working with our environmental and engineering colleagues which will help you further understand our consultancy and construction business.
This opportunity is not a one-way street as we will give you an exciting space in which to develop. You will be visible within our business, working with other ecology team leads across the UK and our Nature Services experts, and providing you with support and opportunities for your reputation to grow, allowing you to influence peers both internally and across the sector. 

We would like to discuss with you what role you would like to have within Mott MacDonald and set responsibilities once we know your key goals and aspirations. We have a lot of varied and interesting roles that will appeal to most ecologists. Dependent upon where you are based, you will report into a regional and area lead who co-ordinate with teams throughout the UK.

Candidate Specification

• Competent Ecologist with strong UK experience.
• A degree in Ecology (or directly related subject). An additional higher degree would be an advantage.
• Chartered member of CIEEM
• Good knowledge of wildlife legislation including planning processes and/or EIA/HRA assessments and undertaking surveys.
• Good knowledge, understanding and experience of applying relevant guidance for surveys.
• Proficiency in report writing skills, displaying good standards with attention to detail and ability to write accurate and concise reports, including EcIAs and HRAs.
• Proficiency in undertaking quality assurance on a wide range of ecology reports, including EcIAs and HRAs.
• Experience in field surveys including Phase 1 habitat survey, UK Habitat assessment, and protected species surveys.
• Experience in Biodiversity Net Gain which should include surveys, metric calculations, BNG design, and BNG management plans.
• Attention to detail and the ability to deliver contracts on time and to budget.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Excellent communication skills including report writing and checking, approval, and presentation skills.
• Excellent business development skills with drive and ambition to grow these key areas.
• Excellent skills for bidding and development of client relationships.
• Experience in the UK ecological consultancy market, with desirable experience of external-facing, client-orientated roles.
• Willingness to support team management.
• Willingness to manage and mentor junior staff.
• Willingness to encourage innovation and digital services.
• Willingness to travel throughout the UK.

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Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

Agile working 

Happy to talk Flexible Working and how we can support your responsibilities beyond the workplace.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

 Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.