Aquatic Ecologist Graduate - Nottingham or Basingstoke (Immediate/Summer 26 start)

About Our Team: Ecology is part of AECOM’s Environment business which provides environmental management services for feasibility, impact analysis and operational compliance as well as remediation, restoration and re-use of impacted property. Our Nottingham and Basingstoke offices are currently seeking a Graduate Aquatic Ecologist. The role will support the delivery of consultancy and advisory services, including a wide range of fieldwork and site work opportunities, to both internal and external clients to a high level of technical quality and to programme and budget.

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Support the delivery of existing and new contracts for the collection and analysis of aquatic survey data including fish, macroinvertebrates, crayfish, macrophytes, riparian mammals, River Habitat Survey etc.;
• Conduct laboratory analysis of macroinvertebrate samples (family and mixed-taxon) in our Leeds or Nottingham laboratory;
• Assist with a wider range of terrestrial ecology surveys;
• Work as part of the existing network of AECOM ecologists and water scientists within the UK and Ireland;
• Communicate with line manager, project managers, clients, project teams and other members of the Aquatic Ecology and Water Environment team in person, by telephone, e-mail, letters and reports;
• Comply with internal business management procedures, including in relation to health and safety and technical quality of all advice and outputs;
• Contribute to maintaining internal and external client relationships, including providing urgent ecological response and/or advice as required;
• Collaborate with colleagues in wider AECOM teams on multi-disciplinary projects;
• Assist with other administrative duties which add value to the management and development of the team.

Enjoy the Perks. At AECOM, you'll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customised to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

Here is what you will get from us!

• On the job support and learning when a graduate starts at AECOM, we pair them with a senior member of the team who will guide and mentor them through their initial period working on live projects and business development tasks, to support with any technical queries.
• Graduate Development Programme: Our 2 year graduate ADVANCE programme is designed to help you build your career in AECOM. You will attend a number of instructor-led training sessions where you will meet and hear from people across the business and take part in a series of interactive activities to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your role. Alongside the instructor-led elements of the ADVANCE programme, you will also engage with an online curriculum via AECOM University and have the opportunity to join the ADVANCE webinar series. We will provide you with all the support and tools you need to achieve your professional development ambitions, which may include Chartership with the relevant international professional institution.

Qualifications: Ready to push the limits of what’s possible? Here’s what we’re looking for:

• A degree (preferably MSc or higher, but BSc considered) in Aquatic Ecology/ Ecology or related discipline (Freshwater Biology, Marine/ Ecology/ Zoology) would be an advantage, as would previous commercial and/or regulatory experience.
• Freshwater experience is essential as is Laboratory macroinvertebrate analysis.
• The successful candidate will understand some or all the following: aquatic ecology and surveys such as fish, macroinvertebrates, crayfish, macrophytes, riparian mammals and/or River Habitat Survey.
• Microsoft Office skills essential such as Word, Excel & PowerPoint.
• Ability to structure & prioritise work effectively through close cooperation with the team as a whole.
• Solid attention to detail.
• Strong numeracy.
• Ability to communicate effectively to internal and external clients, both verbally & in writing with the confidence to engage with a variety of people (clients, colleagues, stakeholders and sub-contractors alike) and the aptitude to rationally explain, explore and discuss technical issues and capture feedback.
• Desirable: Full driving license and willingness to travel on occasion is desirable (some site travel with equipment may be required).

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us.

At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives. If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you!

Additional Information: Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible since CVs will be reviewed, and candidates selected on a rolling recruitment basis for either immediate or advanced offer start. Please include a covering letter with your application and provide all predicted and/or obtained academic grades. You must have permanent right to work in Ireland as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.