Principal Ecologist /Associate Director – Ecology Peterborough

Overview

In this leadership role you guide the ecology practice in Peterborough, shaping strategic direction and delivering high-impact biodiversity work across water, transport and energy projects. You will influence major infrastructure decisions, develop a high-performing team, and represent the ecology function in client, regulator, and project governance. This is a globally connected role with opportunities to shape projects, grow capability, and lead on bids and strategy. You’ll work to deliver sustainable outcomes for communities and environments at scale.

Pay / Benefits

• Hybrid working policy
• Competitive salary
• Enhanced pension contributions up to 10%
• Comprehensive health coverage
• Life assurance at 4x salary
• CPD opportunities

Responsibilities

• Steer strategic direction for the Peterborough ecology team and contribute to UK-wide leadership
• Provide high-quality ecological advice to clients, stakeholders and regulators
• Build and maintain strong client and stakeholder relationships
• Lead and mentor colleagues with empathetic, high-impact leadership
• Apply expertise in EIA, Habitat Regulations Assessment and Biodiversity Net Gain
• Design and oversee ecological monitoring and survey programmes
• Collaborate across disciplines to deliver integrated solutions
• Identify, bid for and win new work
• Promote the ecology team’s capability across the business and externally
• Oversee resource planning for Peterborough ecology teams to balance workloads

Key requirements

• Strong background in terrestrial ecology with significant industry experience
• Chartered status (or on track to achieve it)
• Proven experience leading ecological input on large-scale projects
• Strategic mindset with ability to influence wider business decisions
• Experience in line management, mentoring and team development
• Proactive, hands-on approach with strong self-awareness
• Ability to adapt across diverse and complex projects
• Experience in innovative scoping of ecological inputs
• Experience with Biodiversity Net Gain and project consenting

• Forward-thinking leadership
• Excellent stakeholder engagement
• Mentoring and people development
• EIA
• Habitat Regulations Assessment
• Biodiversity Net Gain

…