Principal Ecologist
2 days ago
Bradford
Bennett & Game are proud to be representing an award-winning multi-disciplinary engineering and environmental consultancy, previously recognised as one of the UK's Top 100 Companies to Work For. With offices across the country, including a strong presence in Leeds, they deliver innovative and sustainable solutions across infrastructure, development, and environmental sectors. Due to continued expansion of their ecological services, they are now seeking a Principal Ecologist to join their Leeds office and play a key role in driving technical excellence, project delivery, and team development within a collaborative, forward-thinking environment. Principal Ecologist Job Overview • Lead complex ecological assessments, including advanced protected species surveys, detailed site evaluations, and strategic ecological input for major development projects, • Prepare and oversee high-quality technical reports such as Ecological Impact Assessments, biodiversity net gain strategies, mitigation design, and specialist ecological guidance, • Provide senior technical leadership across multidisciplinary project teams, collaborating with arboriculturists, landscape architects, engineers, and planners, • Design and implement mitigation, compensation, and enhancement strategies for protected species and habitats, ensuring robust compliance with legislation, • Manage client relationships, support fee proposals, and contribute to business development across the ecology service line, • Oversee ecological components during construction phases, including method statement development, ecological supervision, and compliance monitoring, • Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biological Sciences, or a related discipline, • Extensive consultancy experience with proven ability to lead ecological projects from bid through to delivery, • Strong knowledge of UK wildlife legislation, planning policy, advanced mitigation design, and biodiversity net gain principles, • Competency with protected species survey licences (e.g. bats, GCN) and holding one or more Natural England licences is highly advantageous, • Strong GIS capability (QGIS or ArcGIS) and confidence in reviewing complex ecological data, • Excellent leadership, client management, and project management skills, • Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 per annum (depending on experience), • Inclusive Culture - Supportive, collaborative workplace that values diversity and professional growth, • Competitive Rewards - 5% pension match, life assurance, and long-service recognition, • Time Off & Flexibility - 25 days' holiday (rising to 28), option to buy additional days, hybrid working (3 days office), and flexible core hours, • Health & Wellbeing - Westfield Health cover, healthcare cash plan, Cycle to Work scheme, and dedicated wellbeing initiatives JBRP1_UKTJ