Principal Ecologist

About us

At Environment Bank, we’re working together to help restore natural habitats across England. With thousands of acres of new habitat creation already underway, our projects are delivering biodiversity gains and helping vital ecosystems to recover and flourish.

Our diverse team includes ecologists, land managers, habitat specialists, geospatial analysts, planning advisors, account managers, digital creatives, legal experts, and more.

From our habitat specialists to our sales and marketing teams, everyone at Environment Bank is a champion for our values, working towards our goal of reversing biodiversity loss.

Environment Bank is a market-leading organisation in a sector that’s experiencing rapid growth. We’ve already built a highly skilled team of experts and we’re actively looking to expand our team in the coming months.

We’re incredibly proud of all we achieved so far and we’re still growing. If you’d like to be part of a driven organisation that’s making a real difference, find your next role with the team at Environment Bank.

About the role

We are seeking a Principal Ecologist to join our Ecology Offers Team. You will provide close support to the Head of Offers, leading on the identification, assessment and development of early-stage Habitat Bank opportunities across England, with a particular focus in your defined geographical region. You will oversee a broad set of responsibilities, mentoring and supporting other ecologists, and ensuring early-stage projects are ecologically robust and commercially viable. This role focuses on feasibility and concept design, working closely with internal teams to deliver commercially viable designs that prioritise delivery of the right habitats in the right places.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead on the identification, appraisal and progression of multiple Habitat Bank projects, including complex sites, from initial enquiry through to commercial offer, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy and objectives.
• Undertake ecological surveys, including site walkovers, UK Habitat Classification, and habitat condition assessments (ranging from simple to complex habitats), alongside early-stage feasibility assessments, evaluating ecological potential, constraints, BNG suitability and deliverability, and recommending whether sites should progress to offer.
• Manage and prioritise a pipeline of opportunities, assessing ecological value, strategic fit and commercial viability.
• Analyse ecological data and complete Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments using the Statutory Biodiversity Metric, determining baseline units and uplift potential.
• Develop concept Habitat Bank designs, setting out habitat creation and enhancement opportunities for a range of sites, including complex projects.
• Produce high-quality written outputs, GIS mapping and commercial offer materials, clearly communicating site potential and supporting landowner engagement. Lead on the development of internal documents, alongside the Head of Offers.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with landowners and stakeholders, acting as a key technical contact and supporting client visits alongside the internal sales team.
• Mentor and support colleagues, contribute to team development, and stay current with ecological research and BNG/Natural Capital best practice to improve delivery and decision-making.

Skills and Experience

• You are passionate about ecology and motivated by delivering meaningful biodiversity outcomes through practical, evidence-based work. To be successful in this role, you will bring the following skills and experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in ecology, environmental science, biology or a related discipline (minimum requirement), with a postgraduate qualification desirable.
• Full or Associate CIEEM membership.
• FISC Level 3 (ideally Level 4) or equivalent botanical competency.
• Proven experience leading ecological surveys and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments, including complex sites, with strong technical expertise in UK habitat classification, species identification, conservation priorities, and use of the Statutory Biodiversity Metric and GIS software.
• Strong analytical and project leadership experience, delivering feasibility assessments, site approvals and habitat planning across multiple projects.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including producing high-quality landowner-facing documents, presenting technical information clearly, and building effective working relationships.
• Valid UK driving licence and willingness to travel to project sites across the country.

Benefits

As an organisation, we believe that work should be fulfilling, inspiring, and balanced, so we’re creating a space where our team can thrive, both personally and professionally – providing flexible working arrangements, mental wellbeing support, and more.

We offer…
Performance-based annual bonus up to 10% of salary
Pension scheme with employer-matched contributions at 6% of salary
️30 days of annual leave, plus paid bank holidays, birthday, and wellbeing day
➕Option to purchase 5 additional days of annual leave after probation
Hybrid flexible working options
Regional and departmental team co-working days
Expenses-paid whole company meet twice a year
️Team fundraising and charity events
Ongoing career development with training and mentoring
Medical cash back scheme to cover everyday healthcare costs
Employee assistance mental wellbeing support
❤️‍ ️Enhanced sickness pay allowance