Principal Ecologist

After a standout year, and with an exciting pipeline of upcoming projects, SEP Ecology are hiring a Principal Ecologist to join our team.

This is the perfect opportunity for someone who’s ready to play a major role in how a small, but incredibly versatile ecology firm moves forward. You’ll be backed by an experienced, passionate team alongside the funding and brand stature of the wider SEP Rail Group. For the right person, we will happily support their development to Associate Director.

Responsibilities:

• Lead a high-performing team of ecologists, from graduates to seniors, defining clear pathways for technical and leadership progression.
• Shape strategy for how ecology supports infrastructure and environmental projects from feasibility through to delivery.
• Strengthen quality and consistency, implementing robust QA and mentoring frameworks that raise the bar across all deliverables.
• Contribute towards business growth, identifying opportunities to expand into renewables, biodiversity net gain, and major civils frameworks.
• Contribute to group-wide environmental strategy, frameworks, and bids.
• Champion integration, ensuring ecological insight influences early design and construction phases, not just compliance at the end.

Requirements:

• Proven experience as a Principal Ecologist within consultancy.
• Strong commercial acumen, comfortable leading bids, managing budgets and aligning delivery with profitability.
• Deep technical understanding of UK and EU ecological legislation, mitigation design, and biodiversity net gain policy.
• A track record of building and mentoring teams.
• One or more protected species licences (e.g. bats, GCN)

What we offer

• £45k–£55k base (DOE) + company car or allowance
• 28 days’ annual leave + bank holidays
• Pension, funded CPD and leadership development

About SEP Ecology

From Aberdeen to Land’s End, our ecologists support public and private sector clients across rail, highways, renewables and complex infrastructure – integrating ecology early so projects progress responsibly and on programme.

It is the policy of SEP Ecology to provide equal employment opportunities to all persons. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, gender, sex, age, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or information or any other characteristic protected by law.