Associate Director - Ecology in Manchester

Are you an experienced ecologist ready to take the next step in your career? Do you thrive on delivering a positive leadership role whilst staying hands on with technical work? Can you contribute to our established group of regional leaders who aim to continue developing and evolving our exciting team? Tetra Tech is looking for an AD to help manage, inspire and significantly grow our talented team of ecologists in the northwest region to deliver an increasing market share of interesting projects.

Tetra Tech is a dynamic, leading provider of high-end consulting and engineering services for projects worldwide. We combine the resources of a global, multibillion dollar company with local, client-focused delivery in more than 400 locations around the world. We work across a breadth of sectors including Residential, Defence, Energy, Government Services and Transport. We are Leading with Science® to provide sustainable and resilient solutions for our clients. Tetra Tech’s ecology team won the CIEEM Large Consultancy of the Year Award in 2023 and 2025 and Large-Scale Mitigation Award in 2023. We are renowned for delivering innovative solutions to our clients' complex problems and our ecology team play a critical role in shaping sustainable projects nationwide, and we are looking for a dynamic Regional Lead/ Associate Director who is ready to lead from the front.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. They help our clients succeed, our business prospers and the communities we work in thrive. We need the very best designers, project managers, engineers, surveyors, town planners, environmental specialists and business service professionals to maintain our reputation as a market leader. We do this by taking care of our people, offering fantastic flexible benefits, providing personal and professional development, and giving employees the opportunity to work on exciting and ground-breaking projects.

The Role: As northwest Team Lead/ Associate Director, you will be at the forefront of our ecology team in the region and contribute to driving success for Tetra Tech’s UK nature team (ecology team sits within the nature team). This role requires a balance of leadership, business development, and technical excellence. You will lead by example, guiding your team to deliver high-quality ecological services while fostering new opportunities and maintaining strong client relationships.

Your primary focus will be to positively lead, manage, and grow our ecology team, providing mentorship and support to staff in their professional development. You will oversee the delivery of a programme of works including complex ecological projects, ensuring technical quality and timely completion objectives are met, whilst maintaining positive engagement with clients and feedback of information to your team. We seek someone who thrives in a fast-paced, high-quality environment and can balance multiple responsibilities which a leading role can bring.

We provide Tetra Tech’s dedicated Project Management training and encourage you to lead projects that align with your technical skillset. With an eye for detail and a commitment to high standards, you will provide support and feedback to colleagues on project deliverables, bids, and proposals. You will also collaborate with colleagues from across the wider business on multi-disciplinary opportunities and projects, so a willingness to understand how other parts of the business operate would be advantageous.

You will represent the northwest region and contribute to Tetra Tech’s nature team business development activities in line with our strategy. This includes leading, supporting, and coordinating the technical elements of bids, tenders, and framework opportunities, requiring a sound understanding of the technical aspects of ecological consultancy and commercial acumen. You will work closely with our professional project managers and bid support team.

In this role, you will leverage your professional network to add value to bids, business development opportunities, and projects. It is essential that you enjoy developing relationships with clients and colleagues.

• Team Development: Mentor and inspire the team and communicate effectively with colleagues and third parties fostering collaboration and professional growth. Lead the mentoring and development of staff in line with strategic goals. Have line management responsibility including timesheet signoff, pastoral care and duty of care where appropriate for the technical specialism.
• Client Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and new clients, positioning us as a trusted partner for all nature-related needs.
• Project Leadership: Take an active role in projects, providing expert ecological input from initial consultation through to delivery, as well as supporting more junior project managers in the Region with troubleshooting.
• Technical Expertise: Our team is renowned for its technical excellence, and the Team Lead will need to provide high-level technical guidance to ensure projects meet regulatory and environmental compliance. They will supervise and review the development of standard technical solutions and verify that outputs meet expected quality standards. Lead the development of technical excellence and solutions based on relevant best practice and research, including knowledge sharing across the national Ecology team. Experience of Ecological Impact Assessment and writing EIA reports and Habitat Regulations Assessments. Contribute to planning committees, inquiries, and Expert Witness evidence.
• Business Growth: Contribute to the strategic development of the Nature department and wider Tetra Tech business. Be involved with business development activity including having an awareness of market conditions, opportunities and competition and the identification and delivery of opportunities with new and existing clients.

Requirements:

• An appropriate academic qualification in a related discipline
• Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.
• Chartered Ecologist or Chartered Environmentalist
• Demonstrable industry experience and capability to fulfil the role described.
• Hold a full driving licence.

Our way of working: We take pride in delivering projects effectively for clients. This often requires colleagues to be together- in offices or on site – to ensure the best outcomes. However, when possible, we also advocate for flexibility around how, when, and where you work. There is no 'one approach fits all' – each team manages their own way of working, we trust our employees and focus on outputs not inputs. Meeting up with colleagues and clients face to face in office environments or on site is important for collaboration, face-to-face meetings, appraisals and development.

Inclusion: At Tetra Tech, we want everyone to feel like they truly belong. Our goal is to create a workplace where every person is valued and respected for who they are. Everyone is welcome at Tetra Tech. Opportunities and success should only be determined by attitude, capability and collaborative spirit. Be yourself, without apology.

For more information on our company, please visit our website at www.tetratecheurope.com. To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter on the Careers portion of our website.

Tetra Tech is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity/shared parental leave, in line with the Equalities Act 2010.