Principal / Associate Ecologist

About the role:

LUC’s ecology team is passionate about creating opportunities for wildlife and people to thrive together.

With established teams in London, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Sheffield, Edinburgh and Glasgow, we support a huge range of projects, at local and national levels. We’re enthusiastic about finding new ways to apply emerging ecological principles and methods to the most challenging of policy and development projects, and we have fun working together along the way.

We’re currently supporting some of the most exciting projects in UK consultancy. Working alongside colleagues and partners, we will apply our skills to projects ranging from energy generation to historic building restoration, regenerative agriculture to strategic biodiversity enhancement plans. All with the aim of achieving our strategic mission of delivering better futures for nature, people and place.

We are seeking either a Principal Ecological Consultant or an Associate Ecological Consultant to join our thriving London team to help deliver our exciting renewable energy generation and transmission orderbook, while also contributing to our wider portfolio of development and nature restoration projects in south east England. The role will involve:

Core responsibilities (both levels):

• Preparing tender responses and fee proposals
• Designing, overseeing the implementation of, and delivering ecological surveys
• Managing projects in line with LUC’s internal Project Management System
• Engaging with project clients and their stakeholders
• Analysing and interpreting ecological data
• Preparing consultancy reports
• Line managing junior colleagues
• Supporting business development activities
• Contributing to business development activity, with support from senior colleagues

Additional responsibilities (Associate level):

• Identifying new work opportunities and leading business development initiatives in line with the LUC Strategy

This role would suit an experienced ecological consultant ready to take the next step in their career in a science-led team.

There will also be opportunities to collaborate with our wider ecology team as well as our specialists in Strategic Ecology, Arboriculture, Agri-environment, Landscape Architecture, Planning, Heritage, GIS and Visualisation and support staff.

The role is based in LUC’s office in London. We work in a hybrid model with people being in the office a minimum of two days per week. There will also be travel required to visit sites, client offices and other office locations.

A full-time role is based on 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday). However, LUC has a strong track record in flexible working, and we have been recognised for our flexible working culture, so we are happy to discuss a range of flexible working options for this role including part time hours (minimum 30 hours per week) if desired.

Salary:

• Principal Ecological Consultant: £39,000–£47,400 FTE (Plus £4,000 London allowance)
• Associate Ecological Consultant: £47,000–£59,000 FTE (Plus £4,000 London allowance)

Experience and qualifications

The successful candidate will join our ecology team, contributing to the delivery of projects and supporting the wider team. You will share our commitment to high quality science and be motivated to grow your ecology field skills.

Essential (both levels)

• Strong understanding of wildlife in the UK, gained through further / higher education or practical experience
• Good understanding of UK nature conservation legislation and policy
• An understanding of the development management process in England and Wales

Associate level

• Demonstrable knowledge of a wide range of ecological taxa, survey methods and assessment types (including a working knowledge of Biodiversity Net Gain and Ecological Impact Assessment)

Desirable (both levels)

• An understanding of renewable energy consenting mechanisms

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

Please apply by via the link.

LUC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. We value the differences, needs and contributions a diverse workforce represents, and we strive to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all our people related activities.

About LUC:

LUC is an award-winning environmental consultancy celebrating 60 years of impact. Since 1966, we have been dedicated to a single mission: delivering better futures for nature, people, and places.

As an independent, employee-owned business, we combine a rich heritage with a forward-looking approach. Our multidisciplinary teams – spanning planning, impact assessment, landscape design, ecology, and geospatial services – collaborate to tackle complex land-use challenges across the UK.

From restoring historic environments to driving climate resilience and nature recovery, we are proud of our past. But in our 60th year, our focus is firmly on the future and driving positive change for the next generation.

Our Mission is to deliver better futures for nature, people and places.

Just like our founders, we’re dedicated to leaving this world in a better place. And we believe we have the power to create a positive legacy through all our projects. We do this by guiding our clients, as well as influencing national and local policy.

Of course, we recognise that change is inevitable. But we also recognise that cities, towns and landscapes of the future must work to help nature recover and to create a fairer society for all. We are committed to creating beautiful, inclusive places that support the health and wellbeing of the people and environments impacted by such inevitable change.

Our Values are what make us.

They reflect our heritage, express the attitudes of our people, and capture what our clients tell us we’re like to work with. Our values are timeless, informing the actions of every generation of LUC.

They guide our big thinking as much as our daily working lives – from the projects we pursue, to how we manage people, to how we resolve conflicting interests.

• We act with professionalism and integrity
• We have the courage and openness to lead
• We collaborate to achieve shared goals
• We act with passion, insight and creativity
• We are intrinsically people-centred