Senior Ecologist x2

About the role

Location: Home-based, office-based or hybrid working, with offices in Castle Donington (East Midlands) and Birmingham (West Midlands)
Salary: £47,500 – £55,000 per year, depending on skills and experience
Contract Type: Full time, permanent, 37.5 hours per week
Holiday: 34 days’ paid holiday each year, including bank holidays, increasing by one additional day for every completed year, up to 40 days in total.

Job summary

Elton Ecology is an independent ecological consultancy specialising in Ecology and Biodiversity Net Gain. We work primarily across the Midlands, with a growing focus on major residential, commercial and renewable infrastructure. Our clients include developers, housebuilders, planning and design teams, and public bodies.

We provide technically robust, proportionate advice that helps clients navigate the planning process while protecting and improving biodiversity. Our work includes Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, UKHab and habitat condition assessments, Biodiversity Net Gain, protected species mitigation work, Ecological Impact Assessment and support for larger EIA projects.

We are growing and are looking to appoint two Senior Ecologists for our pipeline of work primarily across the Midlands. This is an opportunity to take ownership of interesting development-led ecology projects while helping shape the technical standards, systems and future direction of an ambitious independent consultancy.

You will have the autonomy to lead your own work, access to support when you need it, and the opportunity to develop a portfolio of work around your expertise and professional interests.

Who we are looking for

You may already be working as a Senior Ecologist or be an experienced Consultant ready to take the next step in your career.

We are building a senior team with complementary strengths. We are therefore interested in candidates with broad ecological skills, and/or ecologists who have specialised in botanical and habitat survey skills, biodiversity net gain, bat expertise, or a combination of these.

Responsibilities

• Scope, plan and deliver ecological projects, including fee proposals and survey design.
• Lead or oversee PEA, UKHab, habitat condition, BNG, protected species and/or EcIA work, dependent on your area of expertise.
• Produce and review clear, technically robust and defensible reports for planning.
• Provide confident, proportionate advice to clients, design teams, local planning authorities and other stakeholders.
• Manage project scope, deadlines, budgets and ecological risks with appropriate commercial awareness.
• Mentor less experienced ecologists and help maintain practical, consistent technical standards.
• Contribute ideas that improve how the business operates and the outcomes we deliver for clients and biodiversity.

Requirements

• Demonstrable expertise in at least one of the following areas:
  • Botanical and habitat survey work, ideally including FISC Level 3 or above and UKHab experience; or
  • Bat ecology, including holding a current Natural England bat survey licence at Level 1 or above.
• Relevant professional experience within a UK ecological consultancy. Four or more years would be typical, but demonstrated competence matters more than a rigid number of years.
• The ability to manage standard ecology projects and client relationships independently, with support available for more complex cases.
• Practical experience of development-led ecology, including PEAs, protected species surveys and planning-focused ecological reporting.
• Strong technical writing, professional judgement and attention to detail.
• A sound understanding of wildlife legislation, planning policy, survey guidance and professional standards in England.
• Competence using GIS software, ideally QGIS.
• Strong organisation and communication skills, with the commercial awareness to manage scope, time and project risk.
• A full UK driving licence and the right to work in the UK.

If you meet most of these requirements but not every point, we would still encourage you to apply.

Why join Elton Ecology?

• A genuine choice of working arrangements. You can work from home, from one of our Midlands offices, or combine the two. Home-based employees will undertake site travel and attend occasional planned office and team days.
• 34 days’ paid holiday each year, including bank holidays, increasing by one additional day for every completed year of service, up to 40 days in total.
• CIEEM membership and relevant protected species licence fees paid.
• A portfolio of work shaped around your skills and professional interests.
• Funded CPD and external training, with support towards professional accreditation.
• Access to company pool cars for business travel. Reimbursement at 55p per mile for use of own vehicle.
• Real influence over technical standards, internal systems, company culture and the types of clients and projects we pursue.
• The opportunity to work within a growing, forward-focused team.
• A route to Principal Ecologist based on demonstrated skill and responsibility, rather than arbitrary time served.
• Evening and night-survey work is not mandatory for senior ecologists and above not specialising in bat work. Overtime working is rarely required, however this will be either given as TOIL or paid at twice your normal hourly rate, as preferred. Extensive travel and overnight stays are not common.

The closing date for applications is 30th September 2026. Applications will be reviewed and interviews conducted before the closing date.

Elton Ecology is committed to providing an inclusive workplace and a fair recruitment process. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the application or interview process, please contact [email protected]. Any request will be handled sensitively and will not affect your application.