Principal Ecologist /Associate Director – Ecology London
Location: London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Capabilities: Environmental
Office Setup: Hybrid
Job ID: #41068
At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.
Your impact
This is your chance to lead from the front and shape the future of ecology in one of the UK's most dynamic regions.
In London, you'll play a key role within the office's leadership team – providing direction, and helping guide how major programmes are delivered across the UK.
You'll take on line-management responsibilities and support the development of a high-performing team, while influencing decisions on nationally significant energy and water infrastructure, major highway and rail schemes. Your expertise will directly influence decisions that impact communities, environments and sustainability outcomes for decades to come.
This isn't just leadership – this is visible, meaningful impact at scale.
What's In It For Me
This is more than a step up – it's a career-defining leadership role.
- Global reach – collaborate with 600+ ecologists worldwide and tap into unmatched expertise
- Clear progression – structured development through our Global Career Framework & Chartership Academy
- Build your legacy – lead, grow and shape a team in your own vision
- Influence major projects – work with clients like Environment Agency, National Grid, Network Rail & National Highways
- Win and shape future work – play a key role in bidding, strategy and growth
- Be recognised as a leader – represent Jacobs through client engagement, industry presence and thought leadership
You'll be trusted to lead, supported to grow, and empowered to make a genuine difference.
We Offer
- Competitive salary: We offer compensation that reflects your skills and experience
- 24 days holiday + option to buy a further 10 days
- Robust Pension Contributions: We offer enhanced pension contributions up to 10% to secure your future
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Single medical cover and Digital GP service, with options to add your partner and family
- Employee Networks: We have a commitment to hiring a diverse workforce and supporting colleagues of different backgrounds
- Family Planning Support: Access to fertility healthcare and family planning services
- Enhanced Parental Leave: Enjoy enhanced parental leave pay and free membership to employee assistance and parental programs
- Life assurance at 4x your salary
- Income Protection: Financial security in case of long-term illness or injury
- Wellbeing Hub: Free access to wellbeing apps like Calm and Daily Burn
- Professional Development: We cover professional membership fees and provide continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities
- Community Engagement: Participate in charity matched-funding, paid volunteering time, and charitable donations
We're looking for a Principal Ecologist or Associate Director to help lead our London ecology team – a pivotal role within our UK ecology business.
You'll combine strategic leadership, technical excellence and people development, working across an exciting portfolio of projects spanning water, transport and energy infrastructure.
In this role, you will:
- Help steer the strategic direction for the London ecology team and contribute to UK-wide leadership
- Act as the go-to expert, providing high-quality advice to clients, stakeholders and regulators
- Build strong relationships through extensive client and stakeholder engagement
- Lead and inspire colleagues through empathetic, high-impact leadership and mentoring
- Apply your technical expertise across EIA, Habitat Regulations Assessment and Biodiversity Net Gain
- Design and oversee ecological monitoring and survey programmes
- Collaborate across disciplines to deliver integrated, innovative solutions
- Play a central role in identifying, bidding and winning new work
- Promote the ecology team's capability across the wider business and externally
- Oversee resource planning for the London and South-East ecology teams to ensure workloads are balanced and projects are properly supported
- This is your opportunity to shape not just projects, but people, performance and the future direction of the team.
Here's what you'll need
- You're a confident, forward-thinking leader ready to take the next step.
- A strong background in terrestrial ecology with significant industry experience
- Chartered status (or on track to achieve it)
- Proven experience leading ecological input on large-scale projects
- A strategic mindset with the ability to influence wider business decisions
- Experience in line management, mentoring and team development
- A proactive, hands-on approach with strong self-awareness
- The ability to adapt across diverse and complex projects
We'd love to see experience in:
- Innovative scoping of ecological inputs
- Protected species licensing and Biodiversity Net Gain
- Project consenting and construction environments
- Stakeholder and regulator engagement
- Planning inquiries and examinations
- But most importantly, you'll bring the ability to think differently, challenge the norm and continually improve how we deliver for our clients.
But beyond experience, what really matters is your ability to think differently, challenge the status quo, and spot opportunities to improve how we deliver for our clients.
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