Consultant/Senior Ecologist in Cardiff

This role can be based in either our Bristol or Cardiff office. 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, and we have fun working together along the way. We’re currently supporting some of the most exciting projects in UK consultancy.

Working alongside colleagues and partners, we will apply our skills to projects ranging from energy generation to historic building restoration, regenerative agriculture to strategic biodiversity enhancement plans. All with the aim of achieving our strategic mission of delivering better futures for nature, people and place.

We require a Consultant Ecologist, or a Senior Ecological Consultant, to join our Bristol or Cardiff teams to help deliver our exciting renewable energy generation and transmission orderbook in Wales, while also contributing to our wider portfolio of development and nature restoration projects in south‑west England.

The role will involve:

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

This is also an opportunity to work for a sincere, employee‑owned company with strong values and a particular focus on addressing the climate emergency. The role will include 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 offices in Cardiff, Edinburgh or Glasgow. 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.

Experience and qualifications:

• The successful candidate will complement our existing enthusiastic and dedicated ecology team.
• You will share our commitment to high‑quality science and be motivated to grow your ecology field skills.
• 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.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Willingness to work across the UK, particularly in south‑Wales and south‑west England, including regular trips away from home and overnight stays (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.
• Experience of line management responsibilities.
• A protected species licence (bat, great crested newt and dormouse licences of particular interest).

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.