Senior Ecologist – Leeds

Job Title: Senior Ecologist
Location: Leeds / Hybrid working
Salary: £42,000 - £46,000

About the Opportunity

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

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced ecologist to join a large, supportive and collaborative ecology team, working on a varied portfolio of projects across the UK. The role offers the chance to develop your technical expertise, strengthen your project management skills and contribute to schemes that deliver meaningful outcomes for biodiversity and the wider environment.

Our client has a strong focus on flexible working, wellbeing, mentoring and professional development. You will be joining a team where knowledge sharing is actively encouraged, with access to experienced specialists, peer support networks and clear progression pathways.

The Role

As a Senior Ecologist, you will provide technical input and project support across a range of ecological assessments, surveys and reporting work.

You will be involved in planning and leading ecology surveys, preparing technical deliverables, supporting tenders, liaising with clients and regulators, and helping mentor junior colleagues. The role will also provide exposure to multidisciplinary projects, giving you the opportunity to work closely with environmental professionals across different specialisms.

This position would suit a proactive consultant who enjoys varied ecological work, client interaction and supporting the development of others, while continuing to grow their own technical and professional skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, manage and deliver ecological surveys, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, UKHab surveys and protected species surveys.
• Provide technical ecological advice to clients, colleagues and wider project teams.
• Prepare and contribute to technical reports, including PEAs, Ecological Management Plans, protected species reports, EcIAs, HRA inputs and biodiversity chapters for EIA.
• Support the preparation of tenders, fee proposals and survey scopes.
• Assist with European Protected Species licence applications and associated mitigation strategies.
• Liaise with clients, regulators, stakeholders and project partners.
• Support project management, including coordination of tasks, programmes and deliverables.
• Work collaboratively with ecologists and wider environmental specialists across multidisciplinary projects.
• Help maintain a positive, supportive and productive team environment.
• Mentor and support junior colleagues through fieldwork, reporting and technical development.
• Contribute to innovation in survey design, mitigation planning, modelling and nature-based solutions.

Key Requirements

Essential

• Degree or equivalent qualification in ecology, environmental science or a related discipline.
• Experience working within ecological consultancy.
• Membership of CIEEM, or working towards an appropriate level of membership.
• Experience undertaking Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, UKHab surveys and protected species surveys.
• Good knowledge of ecological legislation, planning policy and survey methodologies.
• Experience contributing to technical ecological reports.
• Experience preparing or supporting fee quotations, tenders or survey proposals.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to liaise effectively with clients, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team of ecologists and environmental professionals.
• Proactive, organised and solutions-focused approach.

Desirable

• Protected species survey licence or specialist ecological skillset relevant to consultancy.
• Experience authoring Ecological Impact Assessments.
• Experience preparing or supporting Habitats Regulations Assessment inputs.
• Experience contributing to biodiversity chapters for Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Project management experience across ecology or wider environmental projects.
• Interest in developing into a more senior technical, project management or mentoring role.
• Experience mentoring junior ecologists or supporting field-based training.

What’s on Offer

• Opportunity to join a large and supportive ecology team.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
• Varied project work across the UK.
• Exposure to multidisciplinary environmental projects and wider technical specialists.
• Structured mentoring and training.
• Support with professional development, including progression through CIEEM membership.
• Opportunities to develop protected species licence experience and specialist ecological skills.
• Clear career progression pathways.
• A collaborative culture that values wellbeing, knowledge sharing and technical quality.
• The chance to contribute to projects with meaningful biodiversity and environmental outcomes.