Associate Ornithologist

SLR has an excellent opportunity for an experienced Associate/Principal Onshore Ornithologist to join our Scottish team. You will play a lead role in undertaking and delivering a range of projects, with particular involvement in onshore wind farms, other renewables including DCO scale projects and linear infrastructure. This role presents an exciting opportunity to be responsible for the delivery of avian 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.

The role includes:

• 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 ornithology staff.
• Depending on skills and experience, the role may also include staff management.
• Scheduling, management and delivery of complex ornithological survey work packages on time and budget, using in‑house and sub‑contracted staff.
• Providing ecological advice to clients, planners and multi‑disciplinary design teams and liaising with stakeholders.
• Preparation and review of Ornithological Assessments, Habitats Regulations Appraisals, ornithology EIA chapters and other technical reports.
• Project management, coordination and delivery of onshore ornithology projects.
• Liaising with other technical teams on a variety of subjects including planning, landscape, hydrology, noise and air quality whilst 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 Scotland.

Please note, the role will involve working with other team members located across the UK and Ireland and may require short‑term travel across the UK, depending on client/project sites.

About us: SLR are global leaders in Sustainability Solutions, helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals. We are a consultancy with over 4,000 employees across 6 regions in 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.

About you: A passion for avian ecology, for delivering high‑quality work and for assisting the career development of other ecological professionals. A degree in ecology or a related subject, or the ability to demonstrate an equivalent level of experience. Membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), or equivalent, is desirable. Demonstrable experience and understanding of the European Birds and Habitats Directives and methods for assessments with regards to European designated sites. Strong experience and understanding of the Scottish environmental planning system in relation to the production of ornithological impact assessments. Experience in survey design and data interpretation for ornithological surveys. Experience of territory and collision risk analysis is desirable. Strong skills in report writing, including preparing Ecological Impact Assessments, and Habitats Regulations Appraisals (including Appropriate Assessment). Demonstrable competence in winning, managing and delivering projects in line with health and safety procedures and financial management requirements. Experience of undertaking quality assurance and technical lead roles for projects. A flexible and proactive approach to work. Due to travel requirements, a full UK driving licence is essential to carrying out the duties associated with this role.

Culture & Inclusion at SLR: We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer, and our expectations go beyond purely complying with legislation. Through our Regional C&I Committees, Global Council and Employee Networks, we foster an inclusive environment where all people regardless of their background can thrive. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of their background, including those from groups that are currently under‑represented at SLR, such as people identifying as 2SLGBTQI+, Indigenous peoples, ethnic minority groups, women, and people with visible or invisible disabilities, including those who are neurodivergent. Should you require any special adjustments throughout the recruitment process with us, please let us know. As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we seek to ensure all applicants have equitable support when applying to SLR.