Principal or Technical Director - Ecology & Biodiversity in Bury St Edmunds

SLR has an excellent opportunity for an experienced ecological professional to join our European team at SLR’s Technical Director grade and based in Bury St Edmunds. You will play a lead role in undertaking and delivering a range of projects across our business sectors, particularly including Power, Mining and Minerals, and Built Environment. This role presents an exciting opportunity to be responsible for the delivery of ecology inputs to a number of large and complex projects, which now represent an increasingly large proportion of our work.

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 book, we have fantastic opportunities for an experienced professional to become part of the SLR team.

Duties will be varied but will include:

• You will be expected to liaise with other SLR technical teams on a variety of subjects including planning, landscape, hydrology, noise and air quality whilst working closely with senior members of the team. The key aspect of the role will be the management and delivery of ecology inputs to a range of potentially large and complex projects across our business sectors.
• The role will also include assisting the relevant sector leads with the development of new opportunities, both within SLR’s existing client network and ideally within their own network of contacts.
• Mentoring of more junior staff is also a key part of the role, as it is for all senior staff at SLR.
• Depending on skills and experience, and the specific goals of the successful candidate, the role may also include staff management and leading our work on particular ecological specialisms.
• The role will involve working with other team members located across the UK and may require short-term travel across the UK and potentially overseas, depending on client/project sites.

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 balance the needs of professional and home life.

If you think this could be the role for you, we would love to hear from you. We would envisage that you would be able to demonstrate:

• A passion for ecology, for delivering high quality work and for assisting the development of other ecological professionals.
• Substantial ecological experience, ideally within consultancy and ideally across all sectors.
• Significant project management skills and experience.
• A track record in successful business development and the ability to manage client relationships, and to win and deliver new work through both existing and new client contacts.
• Relevant degree level qualification plus appropriate level of membership of CIEEM or equivalent.
• Full driving licence valid in the UK.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills.

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.