Consultant Ecologist
| Posting date: | 18 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £28,000.0 to £35,000.0 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £28,000 - £35,000 DOE |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 17 April 2026 |
| Location: | Brighton (Hybrid), East Sussex, BN1 1AA |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Hays Specialist Recruitment |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 4779540_1773823075 |
Summary
Your New Company
You'll be joining an independent, multi‑disciplinary environmental consultancy with around 80-90 staff across five UK offices. Despite its size, the business maintains a small‑team mentality, with each office fostering a friendly, collaborative culture.
The coastal South‑East office is home to a well‑established team of around 10-12 ecologists, working closely with colleagues in heritage, landscape, masterplanning and urban design. The ecology team is known locally for delivering clear, proportionate, and pragmatic advice across a wide variety of planning‑led projects.
The consultancy has grown organically over more than 20 years and is committed to remaining independent. Staff development is a core focus, and team members often progress internally, supported by strong training, mentoring and a genuinely collaborative environment.
Your New Role
As a Consultant Ecologist, you'll support the delivery of ecological inputs across a diverse project portfolio while continuing to grow your technical expertise and confidence in consultancy practice.
Your role will include:
- Supporting and delivering a range of protected species and habitat surveys (including UKHab)
- Assisting with PEAs, EcIAs, BNG assessments, HRAs and technical reporting
- Contributing to EPS licence preparation and mitigation strategies under senior guidance
- Helping coordinate survey programmes and fieldwork logistics
- Working with clients, planners and design teams to support proportionate ecological solutions
- Preparing survey maps and figures using QGIS (training provided as standard for all staff)
- Supporting monitoring work on habitat banking and enhancement projects
- Developing your field and reporting skills with strong mentoring from senior colleagues
Project types will include:
- Residential schemes from 30-100 units through to major urban extensions (1,000-2,000)
- Strategic land promotion sites
- Local authority projects (e.g., housing reserve sites)
- Commercial developments
- Heritage‑led schemes
- Biodiversity enhancement and long‑term monitoring
- Limited infrastructure (occasional pipeline projects; very little road/rail)
Travel: Regional across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and some London-generally within ~2 hours of the office.
What You'll Need to Succeed
Essential
- Degree in ecology/biology or related subject (1st or 2:1 preferred)
- Experience carrying out protected species and habitat surveys
- Reasonable botanical skills (FISC Level 3 desirable)
- Understanding of UK wildlife legislation
- Clear and confident written and verbal communication
- Competence with MS Office and an interest in using/learning QGIS
- Strong organisational skills and a collaborative, positive attitude
- Willingness to take part in night surveys and occasional overnight stays
- Full UK driving licence and own vehicle
- Holder of or eligibility for CIEEM membership
Desirable
- Protected species licences (or working toward them)
- Exposure to BNG or EcIA preparation
- Strong project management/coordination and client liaison skills
- River Condition Assessor accreditation (or willingness to work towards it)
The team welcomes applicants with a strong foundation and enthusiasm for developing their consultancy career, even if you don't meet every point.
What You'll Get in Return
You'll be part of a friendly, supportive and sociable consultancy that genuinely invests in its people and promotes from within. You can expect:
- Salary: £28,000-£35,000 (Consultant level, DOE)
- Permanent, full‑time contract (37.5 hrs/week; core hours 10am-4pm)
- Hybrid working after probation (typically 3 days office / 2 days home)
- Overtime paid at time + one‑third for surveys
- Annual profit‑related and performance bonuses
- 25 days' holiday, rising to 30 with long service (incl. Christmas shutdown allocation)
- Pension scheme with increasing employer contributions
- Excellent CPD: internal training workshops, mentoring, and a strong external training budget
- Paid CIEEM membership and EPS licence fees
- Mobile phone and fieldwork clothing allowance
- Employee Assistance Programme & mental health first aiders
- Volunteering days and family‑friendly policies
- Annual UK company conference and dedicated ecology team conference
- Annual UK/European weekend trip
- Genuine career progression, with clear routes towards Senior, Principal and beyond
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.
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