Seasonal Ecological Clerk of Works in Birmingham

Location/s: UK-wide

Overview of the role

Mott MacDonald are leading the way in Nature Services and we are looking for people to join our Ecology Team and to play their part in integrating nature into all developments so that together with our clients we can build a better future. We pride ourselves on setting and maintaining high standards and are at the forefront of providing ecological advice. We have a large portfolio of projects and a healthy forward-order book bringing with it fantastic opportunities for Ecologists at all levels. Our clients include water companies, transport, power and local authority work, with projects across the country. There are currently 160 ecologists in our Nature Services team who have a wide variety of skills and experience.

Key responsibilities and duties

• Act as the Ecological Clerk of Works on construction sites, providing on-site supervision and monitoring
• Ensure compliance with environmental legislation, planning conditions, and Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMPs)
• Identify ecological risks and constraints (e.g. protected species, habitats) and provide practical mitigation advice to site teams
• Supervise sensitive works, including vegetation clearance, species translocation, and habitat protection
• Undertake toolbox talks and environmental briefings for contractors
• Monitor works to ensure compliance with ecological method statements and licences
• Report findings and incidents, escalating issues where necessary and maintaining accurate site records
• Liaise with clients, regulators, and stakeholders (e.g. statutory bodies, ecological specialists)
• Support ecological data collection and contribute to reporting where required
• Promote best practice and continual improvement in environmental management on site

Candidate specification

Essential:

• A degree in Ecology (or a directly related subject)
• Ability to communicate effectively to team members
• Experienced in ECoW
• Willingness to travel throughout the UK and flexibility to work evenings
• The role requires regular travel to remote sites, some of which are not accessible by public transport. Candidates must be able to meet this requirement
• Good decision making and organisational skills

Desirable:

• Technical specialism e.g. holds a protected species survey licence (ideally for bats, birds or dormice)
• Relevant experience in Ecological Consultancy (or equivalent with transferable skills)
• Previous experience in undertaking bat surveys and completing analysis of sound files and infrared footage
• Proficiency in report writing skills and a track record in producing ecological reports

Benefits

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• Financial wellbeing: We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%. Life assurance equal up to 4 × your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 × your salary. Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return-to-work support due to long-term illness or injury. Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing. As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways, including annual bonus schemes.
• Employee Ownership: Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success. Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses. As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution. Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future. For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.
• Health and wellbeing: Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues. Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments. Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues. A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing programme, including access for you and your family. Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.
• Lifestyle: A minimum of 33–35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme. Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service. Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.
• Enhanced family and carers leave: Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave. Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay. Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.
• Learning and development: Primary annual professional institution subscription. A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training and self-development options.
• Networks, communities, and social outcomes: Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities. Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

We are actively recruiting a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve. We recognise that differences in ability, skills and experience are a strength and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

UK Immigration: Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.