Associate Ecologist

At Dalcour Maclaren we are different – we challenge the norm.

Every day we deliver the future by playing our part in building sustainable and improved infrastructure across the UK and beyond.  We provide a full range of services across the Power, Water, Telecoms and Transport sectors, and have grown year on year to become one of the leaders in the infrastructure and utility sectors. Our winning formula for success is to focus on the fantastic people within our team whom we value, trust, develop and empower.

Our Environment and Planning team is growing, and this is an exciting opportunity for experienced Ecologists to support this developing, expanding business area and work on a wide variety of projects from high-profile infrastructure projects across the UK, through to new essential utility development in sensitive locations.

As an Associate Ecologist you will:

• work with internal and external teams liaising with clients such as Natural England, County Ecologists, Local Authority planning officers, and stakeholders whilst working on a wide range of utility and built development projects
• input into development and design proposals, including advising on appropriate site location and construction methodologies, assisting with gaining the necessary consents and licenses in order to deliver medium/large scale infrastructure, water, renewables and a variety of other energy projects
• offer ecological advice and provide innovative mitigation solutions enhancement and consideration across a range of sites and schemes with varying levels of Environmental and ecological sensitivities, including those with National and European designations.
• liaise with clients, consisting of engineers, developers and landowners, where you’ll provide ecological advice on how to facilitate development on their project
• be able to provide all the necessary assistance to unlock utility project development in SSSI, SAC, SPA, RAMSAR including applying for SSSI Assents and other permissions
• feed into Environmental Impact Assessment Screening, Scoping and chapters working with internal and external specialists and environmental stakeholders
• advise on potential ecological site constraints and on solutions/mitigation measures, plus have a commercial awareness on delivery and viability of projects
• provide ecological support to our client’s team, complete licence applications, and be the technical lead for ecological surveys
• be able to provide advice on the need for HRAs and have the ability to lead on their preparation and completion with limited input from others

The successful candidate will:

• hold a degree in an environmental related discipline and will be a full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environment Management (CIEEM). Ideally, you will be  Chartered, or near Chartered status
• have a detailed understanding of Ecological Impact Assessments, planning regulations, nature conservation legislations
• have a good knowledge of legislation and policy requirements associated with Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Protection Areas (SPA) and other relevant designations
• ideally hold at least one licence to survey Protected Species and you may specialise in a particular field of ecology, along with excellent botanical identification skills (British flora) and habitat surveying skills
• have some experience working within a consultancy environment, public sector or conservation body delivering projects for utility and / or built development
• potentially be familiar with GIS systems and have an appreciation of other environmental technical disciplines at a high level allowing you to coordinate and project manage your input into project delivery as a part of the team
• be office based, but be expected to travel to meetings, client offices and manage a team of in house and/or external consultants, delivering site surveys across multiple projects. You may also be expected to undertake surveys yourself as and when appropriate, therefore, a full driving licence is required

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer:

• annual performance bonus scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus 1 day to celebrate your birthday
• private healthcare (through Vitality Health)
• life insurance (4x Salary)
• 26 Weeks paid Maternity Leave
• 2 Weeks paid Paternity Leave
• electric vehicle purchase (provided by Octopus Electric Vehicles)
• professional development – paid study leave
• military service paid leave (7.5 days per year)
• flexible working through our ‘Flexible Advantage’ supporting working families & your work/life balance
• free on-site parking
• subsidised gym membership and other Vitality Member discounts
• charity support – volunteering your time encouraged
• cycle to work scheme

Dalcour Maclaren are an equal opportunities employer.