Environmental Advisor

Location: Inverness
Category: Environmental
Contract Type: Full-Time / Permanent
Working Pattern: 40 hours / Monday – Friday / Hybrid

BEAR Scotland is a leading provider of road maintenance and management services, proudly responsible for the upkeep and enhancement of the country’s vital trunk road network — including bridges and key infrastructure — across some of the most scenic and challenging terrain in the UK.

Our Northwest Trunk Road Unit spans over 1,422km of roadways, stretching from the rugged beauty of Thurso and Wick in the far north, down to the coastal charm of Campbeltown in Argyll and Bute. It connects communities from Uig on the Isle of Skye to the historic cities of Perth and Stirling, offering a unique opportunity to work across a landscape that’s as diverse as it is inspiring.

We have an exciting opportunity for an Environmental Advisor to join our existing team on a full-time basis. In this role, you will support the NW Environmental Manager in the delivery of environmental and ecological work for all proposed schemes on the NW NMC. We would also welcome any applicants at a Senior Environmental Advisor level to apply, with the scope of the role flexible depending on experience.

Roles and responsibilities

• To provide support and advice to the design teams on environmental matters.
• Manage a portfolio of environmental and ecological assessments being undertaken for a variety of planned schemes.
• Promote environmental best practice at all stages of engineering and construction projects.
• Engage and collaborate with environmental stakeholders and regulators.
• Liaise with contractors and specialist consultants to ensure timely completion of environmental deliverables.
• Write reports which communicate complex environmental issues in a clear and concise manner.
• Input / review of applications for protected species derogation licences, Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulation (EASR) authorisations, marine licences, etc.
• Contributing towards and undertaking Habitats Regulations Appraisals (HRA).
• Planning and undertaking ecological surveys and site visits across the NW trunk road network.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• A relevant degree relating to the environment / ecology.
• An understanding of the environmental impacts associated with infrastructure developments and the statutory / non-statutory environmental impact assessment process.
• Knowledge of / experience in writing and reviewing environmental documents and reports.
• A strong knowledge of Scotland’s ecology and practical experience in undertaking ecological field work.
• Good communication skills (both written and verbal), strong team-working capabilities, and the ability to work independently and take responsibility for delegated schemes.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and time management skills.
• Ability to manage a challenging workload which is subject to change at short notice.
• Membership of a relevant professional body.
• Hold a full and current UK driving licence.

The below additional qualifications are highly desirable but not required to be successful in the role:

• Hold or be working towards a NatureScot species licence(s).
• Knowledge of bat ecology, with experience undertaking surveys and licencing.
• Experience acting as an Ecological or Environmental Clerk of Works on construction sites.

BEAR Scotland is committed to supporting growth and welcome interest from Environmental Advisors and Senior Environmental Advisors who are looking to progress and build their expertise.

Why BEAR?

At the heart of our organisation are our people — talented, dedicated professionals who help drive our success. We’re committed to creating a positive, supportive working environment where everyone can grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.

We invest in our teams by offering a wide range of internal and external training opportunities and encouraging continuous professional development at every career stage.

If you’re passionate about delivering the best for clients, enjoy working collaboratively, and hold yourself to high ethical standards, you’ll be a great fit for our team.

What we offer

• Competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Pension scheme with up to 6% employer match
• Employee benefits, including annual leave purchase, Cycle to Work scheme, and an Employee Assistance Programme

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer, committed to fairness, inclusion, and diversity across our business.

Join us and be part of a company that supports your development, values your contribution, and inspires you to do your best work.