Freshwater Ecologist (Glasgow, Scotland)

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

At Jacobs, we inspire and empower you to deliver your best work so you can evolve, grow, and succeed – today and into tomorrow. With a team of 2,400 professionals in our Water and Environment group, we deliver innovative solutions for clients across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The Aquatics team operate across UK and Ireland, and work alongside the Jacobs UK Ecology team (180 staff). Our projects include national infrastructure developments, flood defence and restoration schemes, and major power, water, and transport initiatives. We value inclusion, diversity, and wellbeing, and we actively support professional development through mentoring, training, and global networks.

We are looking for a freshwater ecologist to join the Aquatic Ecology team, in one of our Scottish offices (Glasgow preferred). The Scottish freshwater team have a particular focus on environmental assessment (including EIA, HRA, EASR/WFD) and work across a wider range of protected sites in Scotland, Ireland and the north of England.

As an Aquatic Ecologist, you will:

• Conduct aquatic surveys (land and boat‑based) in a wide range of freshwater environments.
• A willingness to support other ecology surveys (marine and terrestrial) is essential.
• Work with large datasets and be able to convey complex scientific information to a wide range of audiences.
• Produce technical reports, environmental assessment and support planning applications.
• Ensure data collection is undertaken to a high quality to underpin environmental decision making.
• Work within multidisciplinary teams on high‑profile projects.
• Advocate for health and safety and plan survey delivery effectively.

Here's what you'll need:

• Background in aquatic ecology (3+ years relevant experience).
• A freshwater ecology specialism (e.g. fish, invertebrates, botany or aquatic habitats).
• Delivery of freshwater surveys in UK environments.
• Strong data analysis and technical report writing skills.
• Understanding of aquatic UK legislation that underpins environmental assessment.
• Flexible approach with regular UK/Ireland travel.
• Inquisitive mindset and willingness to learn.
• Ability to adapt to a wide range of projects.

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. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company.

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. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit VERCIDA to view and access our roles. 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. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.