What Early Career Ecologists Should Look for in Their First Role

Justin Ayling • February 3, 2026

What Early Career Ecologists Should Look for in Their First Role

Securing your first ecology role is a major milestone and the position you start in can shape your career for years to come. Early decisions matter, as the support, exposure and development you receive at this stage often sets the foundation for long term progression.

Embankment Group has over five years’ experience recruiting within the ecology sector and we regularly speak with early career ecologists who are seeking guidance on securing their first role and understanding which opportunities will best support their development.

In my opinion, the firms best suited to early years ecologists are those that actively invest in personal development and help establish strong technical foundations. This is typically achieved through a balance of field experience and structured learning, giving you the confidence and understanding needed to progress over time.

Strong field skills form the basis of all ecological work. The more experience you can gain carrying out UKHab or Phase 1 surveys, protected species surveys, accurate data recording and using mapping tools, the better. Building a strong field reputation is one of the most valuable assets an early career Ecologist can have and it is important to avoid specialising too early.

Specialisms develop naturally over time. Even if you enjoy working with a particular species or environment, keeping your experience broad will help you identify where your strengths lie, where your professional networks develop and where long term demand for skills exists across the sector. I would also recommend avoiding freelancing too early on in your career as in general, you will not progress as quickly as an employed Ecologist.

Typically, licences become increasingly important as your careers progresses. In Embankment Group’s latest ecology jobs market report, a Natural England bat level 2 licence was, for the fourth year running, the most in demand licence across the UK, with strong demand for bat experienced ecologists also seen in Ireland. Ecologists with around two years’ experience are often expected to hold or be working towards at least one licence, with great crested newt and water vole being common examples. By four to five years, many Ecologists hold two or more licences. While licences are not essential for all roles, they clearly demonstrate professional development and commitment to learning. To support licence applications, early years ecologists should consistently log survey activity and ensure their contributions to reports are signed off as evidence.

Report writing forms a substantial part of ecological consultancy and early career ecologists should not shy away from contributing wherever possible. Over time, we consistently see that ecologists who develop strong report writing skills tend to progress more quickly in their careers.

In this year’s ecology market report, we have also seen a noticeable shift towards companies encouraging more office-based working. This is largely driven by a desire to better support early career development through mentoring, collaboration and exposure to project delivery. Taking advantage of time in the office can significantly improve confidence and overall sector understanding.

When working in the field, it is equally important to protect your wellbeing. Ecology often involves unsociable hours and long travel, so early career ecologists should feel comfortable discussing rest, workload and learning time with employers. Getting a balance is essential and this is not always the case!

In conclusion, the best advice is to join a company that can offer a genuine balance of field and office-based experience. A dedicated learning and professional development budget, or at the very least a clear written commitment to your development, is essential. Spend as much time as possible shadowing senior colleagues in the field, in the office and in stakeholder settings, as this exposure is invaluable

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How to Position Yourself for Promotion in the Ecology Sector

By Justin Ayling • June 2, 2026

How to Position Yourself for Promotion in the Ecology Sector As a specialist ecology recruiter, Embankment Group places around 200 ecologists into permanent and freelance roles in the UK and Ireland every year. One thing we hear far too oAn is that ecologists do not always know what they need to do to get promoted. They may be working hard, delivering strong technical work and supporting projects, but still feel unclear on what the next step actually requires. This simply must change. The ecology sector requires transparency, clear progression routes and strong support for ecologists who want to develop. If ecologists are expected to grow into Senior, Principal, Associate or Director level roles, they need to understand exactly what good looks like and what evidence they need to show. Promotion is about Readiness, not time served Promotion in ecology is not just about the number of years you have been in the role (time served). It is about showing that you are ready to take on more responsibility, support others and add value beyond your own workload. If you are aiming for the next step, whether that is Senior Ecologist, Principal Ecologist, Associate or beyond, you need to think about how you are presenting to the person or people responsible for deciding if you are ready for the next step. Know exactly what promotion looks like at any moment in time If you want to be promoted, you need to know exactly what you are being measured against. It should not be vague or based on guesswork. Ask your manager to clearly outline what you need to do, what competencies you need to show and what evidence they would need to see before you can move up. This should almost work like a tick sheet, covering areas such as technical ability, project management, report writing, client communication, mentoring, commercial awareness and business development, depending on the level you are aiming for. At every moment, you should know where you stand. You should know what you have already demonstrated, what still needs to be improved and what specific actions will help you qualify for promotion. This also makes career conversations much easier. Instead of simply saying you feel ready for the next level, you can point to clear examples and show that you have met the agreed expectations. Promotion should not feel like a mystery. The clearer the criteria, the easier it is to focus your development and build a strong case for progression. Build evidence of your impact One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming their hard work will speak for itself. In reality, managers are busy and may not always see the full extent of what you are doing. Keep track of the projects you have supported on, the surveys you have led, the reports you have written and any positive feedback from clients or colleagues. If you have helped deliver work on time, improved quality or supported junior team members, make sure you can clearly evidence it. Show commercial awareness As ecologists move into more senior roles, technical ability is only part of the picture. Employers want to see that you understand project budgets, deadlines, client expectations and resourcing. You do not need to be winning work overnight, but you should be able to show that you understand how your role fits into the wider business. Taking ownership of project delivery, communicating risks early and thinking ahead can make a big difference. Take on responsibility before you ask for it (or you’re asked to!) Promotion often comes when you are already operating at the next level. That might mean mentoring junior ecologists, reviewing reports, managing small projects or becoming the go to person for a particular survey area or technical specialism. Look for opportunities to step up, even in small ways. The more you can show you are already trusted with higher level responsibility, the stronger your case becomes. Communicate your ambitions clearly It is important to have open conversations with your line manager about your career goals. Do not wait until review time to mention that you want to progress. You should be able to meet your manager casually to review your progress. A single annual review doesn’t really cut the mustard. If this is the case, I would recommend talking to you Line Manager or HR team to review this. Ask what you need to demonstrate to move up, what gaps you need to close and what support is available. This gives you a clearer route forward and helps your manager understand that progression matters to you. Keep developing your technical profile In ecology, specialist skills can really strengthen your promotion case. Survey licences, protected species experience, botany skills, Biodiversity Net Gain knowledge, EcIA experience and project management capability can all help you stand out. Think about which skills are most valuable to your team and where you can become more useful to the business. Final thoughts Positioning yourself for promotion is about more than doing a good job. It is about showing leadership, commercial awareness, technical growth and a clear willingness to take on more responsibility. If you feel you are already operating above your current level, start gathering evidence, have the right conversations and make it easy for your employer to see the value you bring.