Senior Ecologist in Manchester

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual.

About the division: Environmental and social considerations are central to Mott MacDonald’s Purpose and its offerings across all sectors and territories. Our environment and social business provides essential services and innovative solutions which anticipate our clients' needs across all sectors.

Overview of the role: At Mott MacDonald, we believe nature should be at the heart of every development. As we continue to grow our Nature Services offer, we are looking for talented people to join our Nature Services Team and work with us and our clients to create a better future. We pride ourselves on setting and maintaining high standards and are at the forefront of providing ecological advice. Our team has written guidance and delivered training on BNG and contributed to CIEEM’s raising standards documents. We’ve developed innovative tools to more robustly and efficiently collect and manage ecological data to enable our team to focus on really making a difference.

The projects you will be working on can be located across the UK, and span all stages of a project’s life cycle, from design conception to implementation; giving opportunities to positively influence scheme design, enhancements and promote best practice. Although you will be part of a city-based ecology team, you will also be linked to a wider network of ecologists across the business. This offers excellent opportunities for career development and to make a meaningful contribution within our ecology team.

The role will suit a dynamic, proactive team-player who wants to work in a growth area of the business and help with the delivery of ecology services in a fast-moving, client-focused, commercial environment.

Candidate specification

• Essential:
• A degree in Ecology (or a directly related subject). An additional higher degree would be an advantage.
• Over five years’ experience in Ecological Consultancy (or equivalent with transferable skills).
• A Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management or equivalent.
• Ability to communicate effectively to multi-disciplinary teams, clients and regulators.
• Technical specialism: Ornithologist - has ornithological licensing experience, holding a survey licence for at least one Schedule 1 species; Botanist – FISC level 4 or higher; BNG – BNG lead experience on projects; Species specialist – holds a protected species licence.
• Willingness to travel throughout the UK.
• Desirable:
• Experience of preparing costs and text for bids.
• Experience of ecological clerk of works.
• Proficiency in report writing skills and a track record in acting as a checker/reviewer for ecological deliverables.

We are 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.

Agile working

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

• Financial wellbeing: We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%. Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x 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.
• Employee Ownership: Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Health and wellbeing: Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues. Health cash plan to support you with everyday health costs and treatments.
• 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.
• 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.