Principal Ecologist /Associate Director – Ecology Glasgow/Edinburgh

Overview

As Principal Ecologist, you will lead and shape a Scotland ecology team within Jacobs’ UK practice, driving strategic direction and high-impact projects. You will mentor staff, build client relationships, and ensure ecology informs major infrastructure decisions. Your role combines technical leadership with people development across multidisciplinary projects, shaping the future of ecology within a global organisation. You will engage with regulators and clients to deliver ambitious biodiversity outcomes at scale. This is a career-defining opportunity to influence projects across Scotland, the UK and Ireland.

Pay / Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 24 days holiday (+10 by option)
• Enhanced pension contributions up to 10%
• Comprehensive health coverage
• Life assurance 4x salary
• Wellbeing resources and CPD opportunities

Responsibilities

• Steer strategic direction of the ecology team and contribute to UK leadership
• Act as trusted advisor to clients, stakeholders, and regulators
• Lead high-value client relationships and represent Jacobs externally
• Drive team growth, resilience and performance through empathetic leadership
• Oversee EIA, Habitats Regulations Appraisal and biodiversity strategies
• Design and lead ecological monitoring programmes and survey strategies
• Collaborate across disciplines to deliver integrated project solutions
• Identify, bid for and win new work
• Champion the ecology team within the wider Jacobs organisation

Key requirements

• Strong background in terrestrial ecology
• Chartered status (or ready to achieve it)
• Strategic mindset with senior leadership contribution
• Proven line management and mentoring experience
• Strong client-facing skills and regulator engagement confidence
• Willingness to travel across the UK and Ireland
• Hands-on leadership style with self-awareness
• Ability to adapt across diverse, complex projects

• leadership
• stakeholder engagement
• empathy
• EIA
• Habitat Regulations Appraisal
• biodiversity strategies

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