Senior Ecologist – Ipswich

Job Title: Senior Ecologist
Location: Ipswich / Hybrid working

About the Opportunity

Embankment Group is working on behalf of our client to support the appointment of a Senior Ecologist in Ipswich.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced ecologist to join a highly regarded environmental consultancy delivering varied, purposeful and technically interesting work across the ecology and wider environmental sector.

The role will involve supporting projects across habitat creation, Biodiversity Net Gain, ecological impact assessment, protected species surveys, river restoration, natural flood management and nature-based solutions. You will work closely with colleagues across a range of environmental and technical disciplines to help deliver practical, evidence-led outcomes for clients, communities and the natural environment.

This position would suit a motivated Senior Ecologist who enjoys combining technical delivery, project management, client liaison and mentoring, while contributing to projects that support biodiversity enhancement and climate resilience.

The Role

As a Senior Ecologist, you will provide technical ecological input across a broad portfolio of projects, taking responsibility for surveys, assessments, reporting, mitigation design and project delivery.

You will work on both development-led and environmental improvement projects, supporting clients from early-stage advice through to assessment, planning, implementation and monitoring. The role will include hybrid working, office-based collaboration and regular site work across East Anglia and beyond.

You will also support the development of junior colleagues, contribute to technical quality and help identify opportunities to grow client relationships and project work.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide ecological advice and technical input across a range of projects and sectors.
• Design, manage and deliver ecological surveys, assessments and mitigation strategies.
• Undertake habitat and protected species surveys across varied sites.
• Prepare and review high-quality technical reports, including PEAs, EcIAs, HRAs and BNG assessments.
• Support the delivery of projects within agreed budgets, timescales and quality standards.
• Develop practical mitigation, enhancement and monitoring strategies for clients and project teams.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary colleagues to deliver joined-up environmental solutions.
• Liaise with clients, regulators, planning authorities, stakeholders and project partners.
• Support business development through quotations, tenders, networking and identifying new opportunities.
• Mentor and support junior colleagues through fieldwork, technical review and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to best practice, innovation and continuous improvement within the ecology team.

Key Requirements

Essential

• Degree or master’s qualification in ecology or a closely related subject.
• Strong experience within ecological consultancy, ideally at Senior Ecologist level or equivalent.
• Good field skills across UK habitats and protected species.
• Experience producing technical ecological reports, including PEAs, EcIAs and HRAs.
• Good understanding of relevant ecological legislation, planning policy and industry guidance.
• Experience delivering Biodiversity Net Gain assessments, including UKHab surveys, habitat condition assessment, biodiversity metrics and reporting.
• Ability to interpret biodiversity metric outputs and provide practical, deliverable solutions for clients.
• Experience designing and implementing ecological mitigation schemes, including protected species licensing and monitoring where required.
• Project management experience, including scoping, resourcing, budgets and programme management.
• Experience preparing quotations, tenders or scopes of work.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage clients, colleagues, regulators and stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Willingness to travel for site work, surveys and client meetings, including occasional overnight stays.

Desirable

• Full CIEEM membership, or working towards full membership or chartership.
• Protected species survey licences, particularly bat and/or water vole.
• Experience working on habitat creation, river restoration, natural flood management or nature-based solution projects.
• Knowledge of aquatic, estuarine, coastal or freshwater ecology.
• Practical understanding of the Water Framework Directive and how it influences ecological assessment and project design.
• Experience in river restoration, habitat enhancement, channel naturalisation or geomorphological improvement.
• Ecological Clerk of Works experience, including site monitoring and construction-phase advice.
• GIS experience, including ecological mapping, spatial analysis and producing clear geospatial outputs.
• Experience mentoring junior ecologists or supporting team development.

What’s on Offer

• Opportunity to join a respected environmental consultancy with a strong technical reputation.
• Varied project work across ecology, BNG, restoration, natural flood management and environmental assessment.
• Hybrid working from Ipswich.
• Supportive and collaborative team culture.
• Continued professional development and career progression.
• Opportunity to work alongside specialists across ecology, engineering, geomorphology, landscape, heritage and wider environmental disciplines.
• Involvement in projects that deliver positive outcomes for biodiversity, communities and climate resilience.
• A working environment that values innovation, technical quality and long-term environmental improvement.