Principal / Associate Ecologist - Launch your own Ecology office

Overview

Principal / Associate Ecologist - Launch your own Ecology office. Join Ecology by Design for a role where you can take ownership of your work, influence project outcomes, and lead with purpose. You’ll be part of a passionate, forward-thinking team where autonomy, trust and technical excellence go hand in hand, and where your ideas shape landscapes, policy, and the next generation of ecological practice.

This is more than a consultancy role: for the right candidates it is a chance to open and run your own office backed by us.

We are Ecology by Design.

The Role at a Glance

• Location: UK South East / Midlands
• Salary: Negotiable, depending on expertise
• Contract: Full-time, Permanent - Part-time and flexible working considered
• Pedigree: CIEEM Registered Practice. Certified “Great Place to Work”
• Clients include: English Heritage, Knight Frank, Savills, Oxfordshire County Council, Ridge

Why Join Ecology by Design?

We’re not your typical corporate consultancy. We’re an independent, people-first ecology business built on trust, flexibility, and creativity. You manage your own hours, work where you work best, and can take unlimited holidays when you need them. Our offices are dog-friendly, relaxed, and full of energy. We’re a diverse and inclusive team, with a culture that supports innovation and growth.

We have a trust-first policy that backs innovation, not bureaucracy, and we support ideas from AI experimentation to building new business models. Join a consultancy where flexibility, creativity, and people come first.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver and/or lead a range of ecological consultancy work, including habitat surveys (Phase 1 / NVC / UK Habitats), protected species surveys, EcIA, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments, and mitigation design
• Manage and deliver projects across the Home Counties, South, and Midlands with high-quality, client-focused outcomes
• Undertake technical reviews of ecological reports and support consistent quality standards across the team
• Support, mentor, and guide colleagues (depending on experience level)
• Contribute to business development activities and help shape the growth of the consultancy

About You

• A genuine passion for ecology and environmental conservation
• Strong technical experience in habitat and/or protected species surveys
• Survey licence for at least one protected species (e.g. bats, GCN, dormouse) or demonstrable specialist expertise in another ecological field
• Excellent communication and organisational skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel as required
• Experience in EcIA, BNG, BREEAM, or related ecological assessments
• Experience of mentoring or line management (particularly for Principal-level candidates)
• GIS experience (QGIS/ArcGIS - training available)
• CIEEM membership (or eligibility)
• Degree (or equivalent) in an ecology-related discipline
• Advanced or multiple species licences (e.g. Bat Low Impact, Badger)
• Experience or interest in client development and consultancy growth

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Hybrid working: a flexible mix of home and office base
• Excellent training and development, including an unlimited external training budget and in-house learning
• Apple computer and iPhone provided
• Unlimited annual leave and flexible working arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance
• A supportive, collaborative culture where your ideas and expertise are valued
• A chance to help shape a growing consultancy’s culture and direction

Company Culture

We maintain a healthy, team-orientated, supportive culture. We prioritise the health and well-being of our staff, provide in-house mental health support, and aim to keep surveying quality and timeliness central to our business while maintaining a sense of fun.

If you’re an ecologist looking to progress your career and take on senior responsibility or lead projects at a principal level, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and join a values-driven consultancy where your work matters—to our clients, our communities, and the planet.

Application notice: We take your privacy seriously. Your data may be processed by our talent partner RR (Recruitment Revolution) on the basis of their legitimate interests in fulfilling the recruitment process. Please refer to their Data Privacy Policy & Notice on their website for details.

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