Principal Marine Ornithologist in Bristol

Join us as a Principal Marine Ornithologist at SLR Consulting to deliver impactful habitat compensation and monitoring plans for marine renewable energy projects.

Your overall objective will be to work as part of our marine ornithology team to successfully deliver projects and guidance that have important environmental benefits. This would include:

• Preparation of delivery of compensation plans for offshore wind farm projects.
• Preparation and review of Ornithological Assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessments and technical reports.
• Project management, coordination and delivery of offshore ornithology projects.
• Preparing and coordinating tender submissions.
• Undertaking analysis of offshore wind farm impacts on protected seabird populations.
• Assisting clients with written and oral advice, including in meetings with key stakeholders.
• Ornithological field work.
• Contributing to strategic ornithology projects undertaken by the marine ornithology team.

If successful, you will be UK‐based from one of our offices or homeworking with regular visits to our Glasgow office. You will receive a competitive salary, a company pension, excellent healthcare, travel and life insurance, and a structured career framework with regular reviews. You will also enjoy 25 days annual leave, additional flexible bank holidays, and flexible, agile, and hybrid working arrangements that allow you to tailor hours worked around core hours.

We would envisage that you would demonstrate:

• Strong experience and understanding of the environmental planning system in relation to the production of ornithological impact assessments.
• Demonstrable experience and understanding of the European Birds and Habitats Directives and methods for assessments with regards to European Designated sites.
• Knowledge of the ecology of European seabirds.
• ESAS and seabird colony count survey experience.
• A flexible and proactive approach to work.
• Comprehensive experience of project management and managing a diverse workload.
• The ability to produce and review high‐quality reports and deliver them to clients on time and to budget.
• Good working relationship with regulators and statutory advisors.
• Educated to higher degree level in ecology or a related subject, or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of experience.
• Strong IT skills including Word and Excel.

Whilst not essential, any experience of the following would also be useful:

• Previous experience of using some or all of the key tools in undertaking impacts assessments of offshore wind farm projects on seabird populations (collision risk modelling, spatial modelling, apportioning, displacement analysis, population viability analysis).
• Field survey experience.
• Previous experience of checking and analysing digital aerial survey data.

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 and Committed employer, we seek to ensure all applicants have equitable support when applying to SLR.

SLR Commitment – All applicants with a disability who meet the essential requirements for the job will be guaranteed an interview in line with our Disability Confident Committed status.