Seasonal Ecologist - Norwich in Reading

We offer a competitive hourly rate. 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.

Join our ecology team and make a real difference in protecting wildlife and habitats across the UK. As a Survey Assistant, you’ll play a vital role in collecting data that informs sustainable development and conservation efforts. From bats and birds to badgers and newts, your work will help safeguard species and ecosystems for future generations. This is your chance to turn your enthusiasm for nature into meaningful action.

We’re looking for seasonal survey assistants to support our experienced ecologists on a variety of projects. You’ll work alongside specialists in protected species and habitat surveys, gaining hands-on experience in ecological surveying and data collection. We are particularly looking for applicants in Norfolk with a passion for ornithology. If you already have experience leading surveys we’d love to hear from you!

Start Date: Onboarding from 27th April; work begins from 1st May

Locations: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Newcastle, London, Manchester, Peterborough, Reading, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Norwich

Field-based role: expect some early mornings, late evenings, and overnight stays (all travel and accommodation expenses covered and budget for subsistence provided)

Contract Type: Zero-Hour Contract

What does a Zero-Hour Contract mean for you?

• Flexibility & Control: Choose when you work, ideal for balancing jobs with education, family, or other commitments.
• Statutory Rights: You’re entitled to core rights like National Minimum/Living Wage, paid holiday, rest breaks, payslips, and protection from discrimination.
• Opportunity & Experience: Great for building skills, gaining experience, and potentially moving into permanent roles.

Important Considerations: Income and hours are variable, so earnings aren’t guaranteed.

Whether you’re a recent graduate, a keen naturalist, or an experienced consultant, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll need:

• Essential: Enthusiasm for wildlife or ecology, particularly ornithology
• Organised and dependable
• Happy to work away from home
• Driving licence (please specify on your CV)
• Right to work in the UK

• Desirable: Degree in ecology or related subject
• Previous experience in ecological surveys
• Eligibility for CIEEM membership

You’ll need flexibility for unsociable hours (bat surveys at night, bird surveys at dawn) and a proactive mindset to thrive in this dynamic role.

About Jacobs and inclusion @Jacobs. A world where you can. 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 are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives.

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. 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.