At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape the future of ecology while managing a high-performing team.
- Company: Join Jacobs, a respected global leader in innovative ecological solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday, health coverage, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on sustainability and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on communities and environments through strategic leadership.
- Qualifications: Experienced in ecology with strong leadership and client engagement skills.
The predicted salary is between 47250 - 57750 £ per year.
W&E Principal AD Ecologist all offices Principal / Associate Director Ecology - UK Wide with focus on, Birmingham, Scotland, Peterborough, London, Newcastle
Your Impact
This is your chance to lead from the front and shape the future of ecology.
We're looking for experienced and driven Principal Ecologists or Associate Directors to join our team nationally.
We're open to individuals joining any of our offices, but have a focus on Newcastle, Birmingham, London, Peterborough, Edinburgh and Glasgow teams.
You’ll take on line‑management responsibilities and support the development of a high‑performing team, while influencing decisions on nationally significant energy and water infrastructure, major highway and rail schemes.
Your expertise will directly influence decisions that impact communities, environments and sustainability outcomes for decades to come.
This isn't just leadership - this is visible, meaningful impact at scale.
What’s In It for Me
At Jacobs, we don't just offer jobs, we build careers.
You'll be joining a respected and ambitious company with a strong reputation for excellence and innovation.
Our commitment to your growth is backed by
- Global Career Framework - chart your path with clarity and purpose
- Chartership Academy Programme - support to achieve professional accreditation
- Employee Networks & Communities of Practice - connect with 600+ ecologists worldwide and influence beyond the UK
- A culture of collaboration and sustainability - work on projects that matter
You’ll be given the autonomy, support and platform to lead with confidence and make a tangible difference.
- About the Opportunity
- Help steer the strategic direction of the team, contributing to wider UK ecology leadership
- Lead and inspire colleagues through empathetic, high-impact leadership and mentoring
- Act as a trusted advisor - the go‑to expert for clients, stakeholders and regulators
- Lead high-value client relationships and represent Jacobs externally
- Oversee and guide deliverables such as Ecological Impact Assessment, Biodiversity Net Gain, Habitats Regulations Assessments and biodiversity strategies
- Design and lead ecological monitoring programmes and survey strategies
- Work across disciplines to deliver integrated, innovative project solutions
- Play a key role in identifying, bidding and winning new work
- Champion your team internally, raising its profile across the wider business
- Oversee resource planning for the teams to ensure workloads are balanced and projects are properly supported
This is a rare opportunity to step into a role where you can combine technical excellence, strategic thinking and people leadership - all while working on projects that truly matter.
- We Offer
- Competitive salary: We offer compensation that reflects your skills and experience
- 24 days holiday + option to buy a further 10 days
- Robust Pension Contributions: We offer enhanced pension contributions up to 10% to secure your future
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Single medical cover and Digital GP service, with options to add your partner and family
- Employee Networks: We have a commitment to hiring a diverse workforce and supporting colleagues of different backgrounds
- Family Planning Support: Access to fertility healthcare and family planning services
- Enhanced Parental Leave: Enjoy enhanced parental leave pay and free membership to employee assistance and parental programs
- 4 Life assurance at 4x your salary
- Income Protection: Financial security in case of long‑term illness or injury
- Wellbeing Hub: Free access to wellbeing apps like Calm and Daily Burn
- Professional Development: We cover professional membership fees and provide continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities
- Community Engagement: Participate in charity matched‑funding, paid volunteering time, and charitable donations
- About the Opportunity
We're looking for a Principal Ecologist or Associate Director to help lead our Birmingham ecology team - a pivotal role within our UK ecology business.
You’ll combine strategic leadership, technical excellence and people development, working across an exciting portfolio of projects spanning water, transport and energy infrastructure.
In this role, you will
- Help steer the strategic direction for the Birmingham ecology team and contribute to UK‑wide leadership
- Act as the go‑to expert, providing high‑quality advice to clients, stakeholders and regulators
- Build strong relationships through extensive client and stakeholder engagement
- Lead and inspire colleagues through empathetic, high‑impact leadership and mentoring
- Apply your technical expertise across EIA, Habitat Regulations Assessment and Biodiversity Net Gain
- Design and oversee ecological monitoring and survey programmes
- Collaborate across disciplines to deliver integrated, innovative solutions
- Play a central role in identifying, bidding and winning new work
- Promote the ecology team’s capability across the wider business and externally
This is your opportunity to shape not just projects, but people, performance and the future direction of the team.
You’re an experienced ecology leader who brings both credibility and vision.
- A strong background in terrestrial ecology with significant industry experience
- Chartered status (or ready to achieve it)
- A strategic mindset, with the ability to contribute to senior leadership decisions
- Proven experience in line management, mentoring and developing teams
- Strong client‑facing skills and confidence engaging with stakeholders and regulators
- A flexible approach, with willingness to travel across the UK and Ireland when needed
- A proactive, hands‑on leadership style with strong self‑awareness
- The ability to adapt and thrive across diverse, complex projects
We’d be especially excited if you bring experience in
- Innovative scoping of ecological inputs
- Protected species licensing and biodiversity enhancements
- Project consenting and construction environments
- Stakeholder and regulator engagement
- Planning inquiries and examinations
But beyond experience, what really matters is your ability to think differently, challenge the status quo, and spot opportunities to improve how we deliver for our clients.
Why Join Now?
Because this is more than a leadership role - it's your chance to define the future of ecology within a global organisation while working on projects that shape the world around us.
If you’re ready to lead and influence, we’d love to hear from you.
Our Benefits
In addition to the benefits you’d expect, UK employees also receive
- up to 10% company contribution into their pension,
- reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships,
- support to their local communities through our Collectively program which incorporates matched‑funding, paid volunteering time and charitable donations,
- opportunity to buy/sell annual leave.
- Wellbeing support and resources
- free employee medical cover and digital GP service, including support for obtaining formal diagnosis for ASD, ADHD and Tourette syndrome under Private Medical Insurance
- a mindfulness platform,
- dedicated Workplace Support 1:1 Counselling Consultations,
- confidential information & counselling service provided by Optum.
Emotional Wellbeing Solutions is a free confidential information and counselling service available 24/7 via phone or online.
Experienced consultants are available to discuss finance, legal, family matters and counselling can be provided for personal support,
- online demand fitness platform provided by Daily Burn,
- personalised financial planning and support provided by Origin, with 1:1 access to dedicated certified financial planners.
- Fertility and family benefits and support
- Enhanced parental leave pay,
- Fertility, reproductive health and family‑building support through Carrot, including fertility preservation, fertility treatment, adoption, surrogacy, donor assistance, pregnancy menopause and low testosterone support
- A free parental success solution and neurodiversity training benefit provided by Rethink Care Family.
The family solution gives you and your family 24/7 access to behavioural health support tools and resources to help parents or caregivers of children raise happy, healthy and resilient children: 1:1 digital & live support - unlimited access to Board Certified Behaviour Analysts and thousands of clinically validated audio/visual trainings, including support with ADHD & developmental disabilities.
- Bridge the Gap is our parental transition programme which aims to make Jacobs employer of choice for working parents, supporting them before, during and after the life‑changing milestone of becoming a parent.
Bridge the Gap supports our efforts to create an environment where we can bring our authentic selves to work and achieve our full potential.
Birmingham West Midlands United Kingdom Leeds West Yorkshire United Kingdom Glasgow Lanarkshire United Kingdom Edinburgh East Lothian United Kingdom London Greater London United Kingdom Newcastle Tyne and Wear United Kingdom Northminster Peterborough United Kingdom Environmental Environmental
Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally.
Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging.
We put people at the heart of our business .
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W&E Principal AD Ecologist all offices in London employer: ISEP
Join a leading organisation in the UK infrastructure sector as a Principal Environmental Consultant, where you will play a pivotal role in shaping sustainable projects that make a real difference. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will benefit from a collaborative work culture that encourages innovation and offers opportunities for professional growth. Located in the picturesque Home Counties, enjoy a competitive salary, company car, and a range of benefits while working on impactful environmental initiatives alongside a dedicated team of professionals.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land W&E Principal AD Ecologist all offices in London
✨Get Involved in Local Environmental Initiatives
Dive into your local environmental scenes, like community clean-up projects or eco-focused events. Not only will you meet like-minded people, but it's a surefire way to showcase your passion and skills in environmental engineering tech.
✨Join Industry-Specific Organisations
Check out organisations like the Institution of Environmental Engineers for networking opportunities and resources. They often host events and seminars that can help us connect with key players in the industry, including potential employers like ISEP.
✨Show Off Your Projects and Passion
Create a portfolio that highlights any relevant projects, whether it's coursework, internships, or personal initiatives. Share this online, perhaps even on platforms like GitHub or your own website, to grab the attention of hiring managers looking for talent like us.
✨Utilise Environmental Job Boards
Take advantage of niche job boards dedicated to environmental careers. Sites like Green Jobs, Environmental Career and EcoJobs often feature openings from companies like ISEP and can help us land that full-time gig.
We think you need these skills to ace W&E Principal AD Ecologist all offices in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for a role in environmental engineering tech, make sure to highlight your technical skills like CAD software proficiency, data analysis, or modelling techniques. These are essential for the job and should stand out in your CV and cover letter, showing how you can contribute to projects at ISEP.
Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability:In this field, showcasing your passion for sustainability and environmental protection can set you apart. Include any relevant projects, volunteer experience, or courses that underline your commitment to these causes. ISEP will appreciate candidates who genuinely care about making a difference.
Tailor Your Application to the Role:Don't just send a generic CV and cover letter. Make sure to tailor your application to the specific role of W&E Principal AD Ecologist all offices at ISEP. Highlight experiences that align directly with the job description and give concrete examples of your work to demonstrate that you’re the right fit for a full-time position.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have certifications related to environmental engineering or technology, like LEED Accreditation or any relevant software certifications, make sure to mention them. These qualifications can boost your application and show that you’re serious about your professional development in this competitive field.
How to prepare for a job interview at ISEP
✨Brush Up on Environmental Regulations
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest environmental regulations and standards. In an environmental engineering tech role at ISEP, you might be asked specific questions about compliance measures, so understanding these will definitely give you an edge.
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your proficiency with relevant tools and software, such as AutoCAD or GIS. You might be given a practical problem to solve during the interview, so it’s a great idea to brush up on these skills and perhaps even bring a portfolio of your projects to showcase your technical prowess.
✨Highlight Your Passion for Sustainability
In a full-time role, employers are looking for commitment and enthusiasm. Share your experiences, studies, or projects that reflect your passion for environmental sustainability. This will show ISEP that you're not just qualified but genuinely invested in the field.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Be ready for behavioural questions that assess how you handle teamwork, conflict, and project management. Think of examples from your studies or practical experiences where you tackled challenges effectively, showcasing both your technical and interpersonal skills.
