Remote Technical Director - Ecology in Plymouth

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.

We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

Join our dynamic Nature team as Technical Director in our UK and Ireland offices, including Manchester, Leeds, Basingstoke, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Cardiff, Nottingham, Bristol and Liverpool offices (other locations across the UK may be considered). We operate a hybrid working model so you can be in the office or work from home to suit you and the requirements of the job.

Our Nature team are working on a mix of large infrastructure projects in the energy, water, renewables, defence and transport sectors, alongside managing smaller local projects. The vast majority of our projects are based in the UK and Ireland.

We are looking for a technical leader, someone that can help us shape and drive the ecology team within UK&I. We will call upon your in-depth expertise on ecological assessments and project management to ensure that projects are delivered on time, to budget, and to the high standard expected by AECOM, our clients, and the ecology profession. You will be a member of the wider ecology leadership team in UK&I and will have a say in shaping the direction and future of our team and our work. You will be client facing as well as a coach and mentor to our team. Your work will be a balance between work winning, project management, and delivery.

In this role, depending on your interests and skillset, you will have opportunities to support on a variety of areas such as:

• using innovative survey techniques for species and habitats surveys, data capture and reporting;
• work winning;
• management of projects, Habitats Regulations Assessments; and
• leadership and coaching opportunities.

Here's what you'll do:

• Lead the planning and delivery of ecological inputs for both internal and external clients;
• Produce and technically review a range of ecological assessments including Preliminary Ecological Appraisal; Protected Species Baseline Reports; Ecological Impact Assessments; Habitats Regulations Assessment; and Biodiversity Net Gain calculations;
• Provide technical leadership to support the delivery of proportionate and pragmatic solutions;
• Project manage the ecology input into large schemes;
• Lead consultation and engagement with clients and key project stakeholders including planning authorities, statutory bodies and the public;
• Play a key role in the continued development of our technical capabilities and encourage the embedding of innovation/research;
• Lead the production of bids and tenders for ecological services;
• Mentor and support both junior staff and peers.

If you're passionate about innovation and turning bold ideas into reality, AECOM welcomes you. Join our team, where we don't just construct infrastructure but also uplift communities and enhance lives.

Degree (or equivalent) in ecology or an associated subject;

Membership of an appropriate professional institution and working towards or obtained Chartered Ecologist or Chartered Environmentalist status;

Excellent knowledge of relevant biodiversity legislation and policy, and reporting skills;

Experience of leading and managing biodiversity assessments (major planning applications and DCO submissions) as demonstrated by suitable professional experience;

Experience in managing projects, project budgets and leading stakeholder discussions, and bidding/tendering;

Experience of reviewing/verifying technical work and supporting wider team members.

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 [email protected].

AECOM is the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities.

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you're working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We're the world's trusted global infrastructure firm, and we're in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you'll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility.