Senior Ecologist

This is an exciting role within Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s expanding ecological consultancy. Through your work you will challenge, inform, inspire and enable others to play their part in bringing nature back to Suffolk.

Suffolk Wildlife Trust has much to be proud of and be excited about and our consultancy is very much at the heart of the charity. We pride ourselves on our integrity and a strong commitment to our values. Working with our clients, we can do more for wildlife by delivering high quality surveys and positive outcomes.

This philosophy and commitment to delivering the very highest quality work has enabled us to build an excellent reputation within the county, leading to a rapidly growing business and portfolio of different work areas. As such, the role is ideal for anyone who would like to use their professional consultancy experience and expertise to make a profound difference to Suffolk’s wildlife.

The Senior Ecologist will play a critical role in our ambition to extend our reach and deliver more for wildlife across Suffolk via our commercial work. You will work within a small team managing and delivering a varied range of projects for key clients.

We are looking for someone with integrity, a commitment to help wildlife and a positive outlook to play a key role in helping to protect our rare species and habitats and to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain – all vital areas of work to help nature recover.

Every staff role has three key areas of focus to support our mission to bring nature back. Typically, you will spend 80% of your time on these:

1) Ecological surveying and report writing

• Undertake a range of habitat surveys from small sites to landscape scale projects in accordance with relevant legislation, guidelines and best practice standards;
• Produce high-quality ecological reports, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, impact assessments, mitigation strategies and habitat management plans;
• Carry out accurate UK Habitat Assessments and condition assessments for Defra Metric 4.0 calculations, make recommendations for feasible uplift;
• Complete protected species surveys including bats, dormice, water voles, badgers, reptiles, amphibians and more;
• Utilise GIS mapping in the field and office to create high quality maps;
• Facilitate species mitigation work where required;
• Support Junior staff members in the field where required.

2) Project and line management

• Manage small-large scale projects effectively, ensuring deadlines are met and work is delivered to a high standard;
• Line manage ecologists/assistant ecologists where appropriate;
• Support the Consultancy Manager with larger, more complex ecological projects;
• Assist Consultancy Manager and other senior staff with recruitment, induction, training and professional development of staff;
• Proof reading reports and tenders.

3) Enhance the profitability of the established consultancy work

• Responsible for small and medium sized tender writing;
• Cost up projects and evaluate work within profit margins;
• Seek opportunities to expand consultancy into new areas;
• Expand ecological knowledge to provide source of expertise.

There are many fabulous benefits associated with being part of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust team:

• 9% pension contribution with no mandatory employee contribution
• Dedicated 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme for you and your household
• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holiday days (rising annually to 30 + 8 over your first 5
  years) PLUS Birthday bonus – your special day off to celebrate as you wish
• Free life insurance to give you a little reassurance
• Discounts in high street retail outlets and 10% staff discount in our cafes and shops
• Great staff engagement and social events throughout the year 
• Joining a passionate organisation dedicated to improving our natural world
• Joining a kind and supportive team with Mental Health awareness and Mental Health
  champions 
• Working across some of the most beautiful locations in the county

Please take a look at our website for more information and details of how to apply.