Bat Ecologists

Licenced Bat Ecologists and Bat Earned Recognition (BER) Level 1-3 Registered Consultant. Duties will be varied but will include:

• Undertake a range of bat surveys including Daytime Bat Walkover, Daytime Preliminary Roost Assessments (PRA), dusk emergence and rarely dawn return surveys, backtracking surveys, hibernation surveys, Ground Level Tree Assessment (GLTA) and use of advanced bat survey techniques including trapping and radiotracking.
• Record and manage survey data to a high professional standard using top of the range survey equipment and technology, utilising dedicated in-house data recording apps and automation software and processes.
• Completing BER site registrations, EPSL licensing and mitigation works.
• Accurately analyse bat data in a timely manner; it would be advantageous to hold Certificate of Bat Acoustics Analysis.
• Supervising mitigation works and implementing method statements.
• Contribute to technical reports, preparing and leading on European Protected Species Licences (EPSL) and designing and overseeing bat mitigation and compensation strategies for a range of bat species.
• Producing technical reports and management plans.
• Provide bat expertise to multidisciplinary project teams.
• Mentor junior ecologists and provide training to the National team where required.
• Liaise with other SLR technical teams on a variety of subjects including planning, landscape, hydrology, noise and air quality while working closely with senior members of the team.
• Management and delivery of ecology inputs to a range of potentially large and complex projects across business sectors.
• Liaise with clients, stakeholders and regulatory bodies as required.
• Depending on skills and experience, the role may also include staff management.
• Short-term travel across the UK and potentially overseas, depending on client/project sites.

You will have demonstrable experience in bat surveys, licensing, mitigation and supervision. You should hold a Natural England Class 2 bat licence or above and be able to demonstrate competence in bat survey and mitigation. Ideally, you should be a Bat Earned Recognition consultant (Level 1 to 3) or eligible to be accredited.

Full understanding of the relevant ecological legislation and policy throughout the UK is required. Proactive in developing your own technical knowledge alongside training and sharing your knowledge to develop and mentor more junior members of the team.

BSc Ecology, Biological Science, Zoology or equivalent (MSc desirable) and eligible CIEEM membership (level dependent on grade). Good theoretical grounding in ecology and environmental assessment. Experience in project management duties including planning and scheduling surveys, budget management and client liaison is desirable.

If you are interested and hold a full UK driving licence, we would love to hear from you. SLR is seeking multiple licenced bat ecologists (Natural England Class 2 and above) with proven experience in securing mitigation licences. We particularly welcome applications from Bat Earned Recognition registered consultants (Level 1 – 3) or eligible to be BER accredited agents.

Opportunities are available across multiple grades. The role can be located across any of our office locations in England. You will work on a diverse portfolio of projects and sectors, particularly including Power, Mining and Minerals and Built Environment delivering high-quality bat surveys, mitigation strategies and technical reporting.

This role presents an exciting opportunity to be responsible for the delivery of ecology inputs to large and complex projects. While the advert focuses on bat expertise, we do not pigeonhole our ecologists. If you hold additional ecological skills, whether in other protected species, botany, ornithology, etc., we actively encourage you to continue developing and utilising those competencies.

With a structured career framework putting staff in charge of their own progression and a team of over 200 permanent ecologists, SLR Consulting leads the way in providing exemplar ecological advice and services. We have a real passion for what we do and due to continued commercial success and a very healthy work pipeline for several years ahead, we have fantastic opportunities for an experienced botanist to become part of the SLR team.

Along with competitive salaries, our staff enjoy a comprehensive benefits package with a company pension plus excellent healthcare offering, travel and life insurance and a structured career framework with regular reviews offering outstanding opportunities for progression. Alongside 25 days' annual leave, with additional flexible bank holidays, we offer flexible, agile and hybrid working which enables staff to tailor hours worked around core hours, with family-friendly policies helping balance the needs of professional and home life.

We are committed to our team developing their skills and we will provide training, mentoring and shadowing opportunities to allow your competencies and bat expertise skills to continue to develop.