Principal Ecologist

Overview

In this Ecology role at WSP, you help deliver high-impact ecological work within a global engineering firm. You collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to manage workload, ensure technical quality, and mentor junior ecologists. You’ll develop and deliver survey programmes, pragmatic mitigation, and regulatory deliverables for diverse projects. The role blends field and office work with a strong focus on wellbeing, inclusion, and career development. A meaningful hook is the opportunity to shape ecological outcomes across major projects while growing within a supportive, innovative culture.

Pay / Benefits

• Hybrid working policy
• Work-life balance
• Thrive wellbeing programme
• Virtual GP service
• Gymflex scheme
• Menopause support package

Responsibilities

• Embrace health, safety and wellbeing culture in daily operations
• Collaborate with Regional Director and Team Leader to manage workload and ensure technical quality
• Generate opportunities, prepare tenders, and oversee delivery of ecological deliverables (technical, commercial, financial) for clients
• Provide site- and office-based support to mentor junior team members
• Foster an enthusiastic, supportive, and productive working environment

Key requirements

• Experience across UK habitats and protected species; holding or having held survey and/or mitigation licences
• Proven ability to design and deliver survey programmes, develop cost-effective mitigation, secure regulator agreement, and supervise on-site implementation
• Experience of Ecological Impact Assessment and drafting Environmental Statement chapters
• Experience of Habitats Regulations Assessment
• Track record of winning work from commercial clients, especially in residential, mixed-use, and industrial sectors
• Commitment to leading and developing ecologists at all levels
• Leadership and mentoring
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Opportunity-driven mindset
• Ecological survey design and delivery
• Mitigation planning and delivery
• Ecological Impact Assessment (EIA)

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