Principal Ecologist in London

LUC’s ecology team is passionate about creating opportunities for wildlife and people to thrive together. With established teams in London, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, Sheffield, Edinburgh and Glasgow, we support a huge range of projects at local and national levels. We’re enthusiastic about finding new ways to apply emerging ecological principles and methods to the most challenging of policy and development projects.

We require a Principal Ecological Consultant to join our thriving London team to help deliver our exciting renewable energy generation and transmission orderbook, while also contributing to our wider portfolio of development and nature restoration projects in south east England.

The role will involve:

• Preparing tender responses and fee proposals.
• Designing, overseeing the implementation of, and delivering ecological surveys.
• Managing projects in line with LUC’s internal Project Management System.
• Engaging with project clients and their stakeholders.
• Analysing and interpreting ecological data.
• Preparing consultancy reports.
• Line managing junior colleagues.
• Contributing to business development activity, with support from senior colleagues.

This role would suit an experienced ecological consultant ready to take the next step in their career in a science‑led team. There will also be opportunities to collaborate with our wider ecology team as well as our specialists in Strategic Ecology, Arboriculture, Agri‑environment, Landscape Architecture, Planning, Heritage, GIS and Visualisation and support staff.

The role includes the opportunity to share and participate actively in the management and ownership of the business through the Employee Ownership Trust, which places full ownership of the company with the employees. The role is based in LUC’s office in London. We work in a hybrid model with people being in the office a minimum of two days per week. There will also be travel required to visit sites, client offices and other office locations.

A full‑time role is based on 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday). However, LUC has a strong track record in flexible working, and we have been recognised for our flexible working culture, so we are happy to discuss a range of flexible working options for this role including part‑time hours (minimum 30 hours per week) if desired.

Salary: £39,000‑£47,400 FTE (plus London allowance of £4,000)

Experience and qualifications:

• Strong understanding of wildlife in the UK, gained through further / higher education or practical experience.
• Good understanding of UK nature conservation legislation and policy.
• An understanding of the development management process in England and Wales.
• Wide ranging experience in habitat and protected species survey, including survey design, data management and analysis.
• Experience in the preparation or review of ecological consultancy reports, including preliminary ecological appraisals, protected species survey reports and Ecological Impact Assessment.
• Experience of engaging with commercial clients and their stakeholders.
• Experience of line management responsibilities.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Willingness to work across the UK, with some trips away from home (all costs and expenses covered by LUC).
• Willingness to occasionally work antisocial hours, particularly during the bat survey season when night shift work may be necessary.
• An understanding of renewable energy consenting mechanisms.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK. LUC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we actively encourage applications from under‑represented groups. We value the differences, needs and contributions a diverse workforce represents, and we strive to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all our people related activities.