Ornithologist - Principal / Technical Director in Manchester

Responsibilities include preparation of fee proposals and scope of works, report writing and technical review of reports, preparation and coordination of tender submissions, supervision and mentoring of ecology staff, and potentially staff management depending on skills and experience. The role involves scheduling, management and delivery of complex ecological survey work packages on time and budget, using in-house and occasionally sub-contracted staff. Client and stakeholder engagement is essential, along with preparation and review of Ornithological Assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessments, ecology EIA chapters and other technical reports. Project management, coordination and delivery of onshore ornithology projects are key aspects of the role. This includes liaising with other technical teams on various subjects such as planning, landscape, hydrology, noise and air quality while working closely with senior members of the ecology team in other offices, both in the UK and overseas. Seeking opportunities through coordinated business development to expand ecology and other services and capabilities in the region is also part of the responsibilities.

The role will involve working with other team members located across the UK and Ireland and may require short-term travel across the UK and potentially overseas, depending on client/project sites.

Qualifications include a passion for ecology, delivering high quality work, and assisting the career development of other ecological professionals. Strong experience and understanding of the environmental planning system in relation to the production of ornithological impact assessments is required. Demonstrable experience and understanding of the European Birds and Habitats Directives and methods for assessments regarding European designated sites is essential. A flexible and proactive approach to work, along with demonstrable competence in project management, planning work in line with health and safety procedures, budget management and technical report preparation is necessary. A track record in project winning, delivery and management is expected, as well as the ability to produce and review high quality reports and deliver them to clients on time and to budget. Good working relationships with regulators and statutory advisors, strong IT skills including Word and Excel, and a BSc in Ecology, Biological Science or equivalent (MSc desirable) with eligible CIEEM membership (level dependent on grade) are required. A good theoretical grounding in ecology and environmental assessment is important, and candidates must hold a full driving licence valid in the UK.

SLR has an excellent opportunity for an experienced Associate/Principal Onshore Ornithologist to join our European team, who could be based from any of our UK offices. You will play a lead role in undertaking and delivering a range of projects across the European Region and across all of our business sectors, with particular involvement in major renewables projects. This role presents an exciting opportunity to be responsible for the delivery of ecology inputs to a number of large, complex and high profile projects. With over 240 experienced professionals, you would be joining a team that takes pride in providing high quality advice and ecological services to our clients. While the advert focuses on ornithological expertise, we do not pigeonhole our ecologists. If you hold additional ecological skills, whether in protected species, botany etc., we actively encourage you to continue developing and utilising those competencies and we will ensure the range of work and training available to you enables you to do so.

SLR are global leaders in Sustainability Solutions, helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals. We are a consultancy with 4000+ employees across 6 regions in over 125 countries. Our 'one team' culture is at the heart of our business, providing a collaborative and supportive environment for professional development. 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 to balance the needs of professional and home life.