Remote Marine Ecology Lead in Leeds

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

Are you passionate about leading the environmental performance of marine development projects? Join our dynamic Nature team as our Marine Ecologist Lead (Technical Director) in growing offices across the UK and Ireland including Birmingham, Cambridge and Dublin, as well as taking advantage of our flexible hybrid working model. You will have the opportunity to apply your skills, knowledge and expertise on both national and international projects.

We work across a diverse range of sectors, including high-profile power and infrastructure schemes (including floating offshore wind), national and international interconnectors, habitat restoration studies, flood defence schemes, and coastal developments (marinas, jetties, slipways, wharf and port developments etc.). In this role you will lead our team of highly specialised marine ecologists, working alongside and closely with our marine EIA colleagues, to build and develop the marine ecology team and grow our portfolio of high-profile marine projects.

You will be client facing and will take responsibility for the management, growth, and development of the marine ecology team.

What your new role will entail:

• Be a Subject Matter Expert: as the lead of AECOM’s marine ecology team you will provide technical marine ecological and marine consenting advice, internally and externally. You will direct inputs to a wide range of workstreams and deliverables across a broad range of projects including involvement in the full EIA or DCO development cycle of major projects. You will be delivering marine ecology impact assessments including ES chapters and associated assessments (HRA, MCZ and WFD) and information to support the full range of licence and permitting applications needed for marine based projects.
• Ensure Quality: as our lead verifier for all marine ecology projects, your role requires a critical eye for detail to ensure that our deliverables are produced to the highest quality standards and compliance with our rigorous quality management procedures. You will have excellent writing and communication skills, able to tailor complex scientific information for different audiences.
• Collaborate: you will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to improve the environmental outcomes of our projects – this will include specialists in underwater acoustics, coastal processes, water scientists and marine archaeologists, as well as EIA colleagues.
• Growth and business development: you lead our work winning efforts for the marine ecology team. This will include developing technical and fee proposals, as well as more general marketing and business development. You will have the confidence to present to internal and external audiences and will lead our client liaison.
• Project Management: you will be an effective project manager, appropriately managing resources and budgets, and reporting on progress internally and to clients. You will also be required to procure and manage specialist subcontractors when needed.
• Mentoring: your role will require you to help develop and train the marine ecology team members, creating a supportive environment for individuals to thrive.

Ready to push the limits of what's possible? Here’s what we will need from you:

• Comprehensive marine ecological expertise with demonstrable experience in the preparation and review of specialist technical chapters and all associated impact assessments, including but not limited to HRA, MCZ and WFD;
• A detailed understanding of the marine consenting and licensing regimes across the UK with experience liaising with, and submitting licence applications, to the key regulatory bodies including the MMO, NRW, Scottish MD and The Crown Estate;
• Ability to provide technical advice and application of advanced scientific practices, theories and technologies for a diverse range of marine projects;
• Team leadership experience, including line management and mentorship of junior team members;
• Business development experience, including preparing tenders, client presentations.

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us.

At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives. If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you!