Senior Ecologist (Belfast/ Cork/ Dublin)

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

As part of a collaborative and growing team, you’ll contribute to the delivery of complex and high-profile projects, providing expert ecological input that helps balance development, biodiversity and environmental stewardship. You’ll support and mentor junior team members, build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, and help drive high standards of technical excellence across the business. This is more than project delivery – it’s an opportunity to make a visible and meaningful contribution to sustainable development, nature recovery and resilient infrastructure at scale.

What’s In It For Me

• Global reach– collaborate with 600+ ecologists worldwide and tap into unmatched expertise
• Clear progression– structured development through our Global Career Framework & Chartership Academy
• Develop technical excellence– strengthen your expertise across a broad range of sectors while supporting and mentoring early-career ecologists
• Influence major projects– work on a range of high-profile, complex infrastructure projects across water, transport, and energy and multiple local authorities
• Champion biodiversity– help shape sustainable solutions that balance development needs with nature recovery and environmental stewardship
• Build your professional profile– develop trusted client relationships, contribute to thought leadership, and be recognised for delivering high-quality ecological outcomes

You’ll be trusted to lead, supported to grow, and empowered to make a genuine difference.

About the Opportunity

We’re looking for a Senior Ecologist to join our Irish ecology team, to take a leading role in some of the most transformative infrastructure projects in Europe. From the ground-breaking Rail Infrastructure Protection Projects which is the largest coastal protection initiative in Europe, to pioneering underground electricity cable schemes of unprecedented scale. You’ll be at the forefront of projects that protect communities, drive innovation, and advance sustainable infrastructure.

In this role, you will:

• Lead delivery of high-profile, complex infrastructure projects across water, transport, and energy and multiple local authorities
• Balance site and desk-based ecological work, contributing to surveys, assessments and project planning
• Use your expertise in habitat and protected species surveys, Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW), EIAs, AAs, and Biodiversity Net Gain/No Net Loss to inform project decisions
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, ensuring ecological considerations are understood, integrated and actioned
• Design and lead ecological monitoring programmes, overseeing survey teams and ensuring delivery of high‑quality field data
• Be a trusted expert - acting as the primary point of contact for clients and stakeholders and confidently communicating ecological advice
• Mentor and learn, contributing to team capability building and engaging with global communities of practice, conferences, client engagements and training events

Here's what you'll need

• A background in terrestrial ecology with a significant number of years’ relevant industry experience.
• Proven experience delivering ecological surveys, impact assessments, biodiversity management planning and reporting in Ireland/UK
• Strong knowledge of Irish and EU environmental legislation (e.g. Habitats Directive, EIA, AA/Natura Impact Statements)
• Full membership of a professional body (or experience to obtain full membership).
• Experience in running ecological inputs on medium-large scale projects.
• Outstanding written and verbal skills with good attention to detail.
• High level of personal responsibility.
• Strong report writing and client-facing communication skills
• Ability to manage site work independently and collaborate within multi-disciplinary teams
• Willingness to travel for fieldwork

Ideally you'll also have:

• Experience working on infrastructure, energy, water or transport projects
• GIS skills (e.g. ArcGIS/QGIS) and data analysis experience
• Sound botanical survey skills and experience of habitat identification and classification using the Fossitt Guide to Habitats in Ireland (or equivalent Phase 1 Habitat Survey experience).
• Experience of leading ornithological and/or bat surveys
• Full clean driver’s licence

Why Join Now?

People are Jacobs’ greatest asset, and we offer a competitive package to retain and attract the best talent. In addition to the benefits you’d expect, Irish employees also receive:

• up to 8% company contribution into their pension;
• life assurance and income protection scheme 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 are available to UK employees comprising the following:

• Free employee medical cover and digital GP service.
• 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.
• Personalised financial planning and support provided by Origin, with 1:1 access to dedicated certified financial planners.

Fertility and family benefits and support are available to Irish employees comprising the following:

• Enhanced parental leave pay.
• Fertility healthcare and family-forming benefit provided by Carrot.
• A free parental success solution and neurodiversity training benefit provided by Rethink Care Family.

Work-life balance and flexibility is a key focus area for Jacobs. We’re happy to discuss the different working patterns we offer: hybrid working; part-time roles; flexible working hours including compressed hours; and annualised hours contract.

We also offer the ability for employees to take time off in lieu to ensure staff have time to rest and recuperate between busy periods.

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, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed.

We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees. With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential.

You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better.