Principal Ecologist - Midlands/North West

Manchester, Birmingham, Stockport, Blackburn or Carlisle

£Negotiable + bens

Background

The Capita Infrastructure Division delivers projects in the UK and across the globe. Following 4 years of continued success and growth in Capita's Environment team, we are expanding our teams across all levels to support our delivery of a variety of projects in the EIA sector to support our Water, Rail, Highways, Tunnels and Real Estate divisions. Our key clients include HS2, the Environment Agency, Local Authorities and other leading national and international infrastructure providers.

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of our expansion process and to help Capita maintain and grow our position as a leading supplier of engineering and environmental services.

With Capita, you will contribute to delivering a portfolio of projects for large private and public sector clients across the UK. Projects will include a variety of multidisciplinary, environmental impact and strategic assessments within rail and railways infrastructure, fluvial and coastal flooding, commercial property and frameworks for local and regional development. Based in one of our 12 offices nationally, you will apply your professional skills to support and lead with the delivery of the environmental elements of those projects.

You will learn about our business, our values, your team and most importantly, yourself. You will develop your decision making, communication, technical and critical leadership skills, have access to personal mentoring and participate in a variety of developmental activities.

Role & Responsibilities

We are currently seeking experienced and enthusiastic Principal Ecologists to join our national Ecology team. As part of your role you will provide technical excellence and leadership to ensure high quality delivery of ecological assessment and design services for key clients such as the Environment Agency, HS2 and Local Authorities. Projects will include a variety of infrastructure and river and coastal flooding projects, as well as projects related to housing or commercial property development.

You will be self-motivated, with good communication skills, able to inspire other team members. You will have excellent organisational skills, be able to work both on your own and within a team environment, including multidisciplinary teams. You will need to be familiar with the requirements of the ecology team and able to clearly communicate ecological and legal requirements in respect of projects and proposed works. Project management will include pricing, programming, resource planning and financial control, technical management of the ecological surveys, report writing and report quality checking.

Key skills

- Demonstrable experience authoring and effective review of PEA, EcIA, protected species survey reports and biodiversity assessments for Environmental Statements.

- Experience and knowledge of conducting a range of protected species surveys with in depth knowledge of particular specialisms.

- Holder of licences for (European) Protected Species (particularly bats and/or great crested newts).

- Experience of scoping surveys, preparing fee proposals and liaising with clients to secure work.

- Detailed knowledge of development consenting procedures and ecological mitigation design and monitoring.

- Strong knowledge of biodiversity legislation, associated regulations and protected species licensing.

- Good people and teamworking skills including coaching and mentoring colleagues.

- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary environment.

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

- Willingness to work unsociable hours as and when required to meet survey requirements.

In addition to the above, you will ideally also have the following:

- Demonstrable ecological specialism - expertise in botany/habitat (Phase 1, NVC) surveying or bats would be especially relevant.

- Experience of coordinating Habitats Regulations Assessments and/or Water Framework Directive Assessments.

- Experience of BREEAM Land Use & Ecology Assessments.

Other aspects of the role will include:

• Business development, including helping to identify potential clients (internal/external) to promote ecology services and alerting colleagues within Capita to opportunities as appropriate;

• Working with Capita's Ecology Technical Lead and BD team to identify required services, skills and the appropriate personnel to provide them;

• Bid support, including drafting technical aspects of tender responses and preparing fee proposals, writing case studies and supporting the Technical Lead on development of service propositions.

Qualifications

As the successful candidate, you will preferably hold a BSc/MSc in Ecology or related discipline with ideally a minimum of 7 years' demonstrable experience working in the ecology consultancy sector. You will have full MCIEEM status or immediately eligible for such status. Chartered Ecologist or Chartered Environmentalist or similar is desirable.

A valid UK driving licence is essential as the role will require travel to offices and sites around the country.

What's in it for you?

At Capita, training and development are not optional extras: they are essential for how we do our job. We will motivate you to perform at your peak, recognising your achievements and rewarding them appropriately.

As well as a generous basic salary we also provide a company pension scheme and access to voluntary benefit options including; child care vouchers, life assurance, holiday buy and many more designed to suit your own personal lifestyle. All of this, in a professional but fun environment.

What we hope you will do next
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Capita operates as an equal opportunities employer and we welcome all applications regardless of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or beliefs, disability, age, political opinions or trade union membership.

Capita Resourcing operates as an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of gender identity or gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or beliefs, disability, age, political opinions or trade union membership.