Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to grow your career in ecological consultancy? Join our friendly and dynamic team at Greenwillows Associates Ltd and work on a diverse range of projects that make a real impact on nature conservation and development.
As a Consultant Ecologist, you will be involved in all aspects of our consultancy work, supporting and leading projects while working closely with our team of ecologists and subcontractors.
Established in 2001, Greenwillows Associates Ltd is an independent multidisciplinary ecological
consultancy committed to balancing nature conservation with client needs. Our work spans a wide
variety of ecological surveys across Central and Eastern England, alongside arboricultural
consultancy and practical habitat creation and management. We pride ourselves on our strong
conservation ethos, choosing projects that align with our values, such as nightingale habitat
restoration and rewilding initiatives, as well as small and larger scale infrastructure
projects.
Key responsibilities include:
- Conducting ecological surveys, including UKHab surveys, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments, and protected species surveys (e.g., bats, great crested newts, reptiles, water voles).
- Managing small to medium-scale projects, including quoting, surveying, reporting, and invoicing.
- Preparing ecological reports, such as Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs) and Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIAs).
- Overseeing and supporting junior staff members.
- Liaising with clients, local planning authorities, and statutory bodies to provide ecological advice.
- Designing and implementing mitigation measures with senior staff support.
- Managing and maintaining survey equipment (e.g., bat detectors, newt traps).
- Producing health and safety risk assessments and method statements (RAMS).
- Preparing protected species mitigation licence applications with guidance from senior staff.
- Carrying out Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) duties and ecological supervision.
- Collecting and submitting biological records to Local Records Centres.
Essential Skills & Experience
To succeed in this role, you will need:
- A minimum of two years’ professional ecological consultancy experience.
- Excellent report writing skills, with experience in writing PEAs and EcIAs.
- A BSc/MSc (or equivalent) in ecology, environmental science, or a related field.
- At least one protected species survey licence (e.g., bats, great crested newts) and competence in the survey and mitigation of at least two protected species.
- A solid understanding of UK and European environmental legislation.
- Strong botanical skills
- Ability to undertake habitat surveys (UKHab) and apply the Biodiversity Metric for planning applications.
- Excellent report writing skills, with experience in writing PEAs and EcIAs.
- Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage your own workload and be proactive in client engagement.
- Have a professional, enthusiastic, and positive approach.
- A full UK driving licence and access to transport.
Desirable Skills & Experience
- FISC Level 3 or above preferred, or willingness to develop these skills.
- Experience using GIS for mapping and data analysis.
- Experience conducting Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) supervision.
- Experience preparing protected species licence applications.
- Associate membership of CIEEM or willingness to works towards it.
- A strong professional network within the ecology and conservation sectors.
Why Join Us?
- A flexible and supportive working environment – We pride ourselves on being a family friendly, inclusive business, that places importance on our staff’s wellbeing. Our current staff have various flexible working arrangements to suit their individual needs and personal responsibilities.
- Competitive salary with regular salary reviews to ensure we remain competitive and offer clear paths for promotion and salary increases based on regular performance reviews.
- A collaborative and friendly team where your input is valued, and professional growth is encouraged.
- Annual training budget and CPD opportunities, including paid CIEEM membership and survey licences. We also offer continuous botany training (both in-house and from external providers) for our employees and clear opportunities for career progression into senior leadership roles.
- Diverse portfolio of work, minimising travel time with a strong local client base. We are fortunate to already have a diverse range of work; however, as a forward-thinking company we strive for continual improvement and proactively seek opportunities to expand our team’s skill set and our subsequent range of services that positively challenge but also inspire our staff.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis – apply early to avoid missing out on
this opportunity!
We look forward to hearing from you!