Principal Ecologist

Principal Ecological Consultant – Scotland £40,000–£47,000 | Edinburgh | Hybrid | Employee Ownership Scheme

An established, employee-owned UK environmental consultancy – now over 300 people strong – is expanding its Scottish ecology team and seeking a Principal Ecological Consultant to take a leading role across a diverse and growing project portfolio.

This is a chance to shape ecological strategy on major renewable energy and grid infrastructure schemes while contributing to some of Scotland’s most ambitious landscape‑scale restoration initiatives.

Role Overview

• Lead and manage ecological surveys and field programmes across a wide range of habitats
• Oversee complex, multi-disciplinary projects and act as a primary client contact
• Provide senior technical review of ecological assessments, reports and deliverables
• Mentor and support junior and mid‑level ecologists
• Prepare tenders, fee proposals and contribute to business development
• Collaborate closely with specialists in ecology, arboriculture, agri‑environment, landscape, planning, heritage, GIS and visualisation

Project Portfolio

• Onshore renewable energy schemes – primarily wind, with growing involvement in hydrogen, battery storage and solar
• Long‑standing support to Scotland’s electricity transmission and distribution networks across multiple operators
• Community infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, defence‑estate modernisation and public facilities
• Climate‑mitigation and flood‑resilience projects
• Strategic ecology and landscape‑scale restoration with national parks, local authorities, estates, major landowners and environmental NGOs
• Biodiversity restoration and rewilding programmes with long‑term conservation clients and progressive land‑management organisations
• Ecological input to Local Authority development planning, including LNCS reviews and evidence‑base studies

Working Arrangements

Edinburgh or Glasgow office

Hybrid working: minimum two days per week in the office

Full‑time (37.5 hours) with flexible working options

Benefits

• Employee‑ownership profit share (up to £3.6k annually, tax‑free)
• Life assurance at 4× salary
• 25 days’ holiday plus 10 public holidays (with buy/sell options)
• Group Income Protection
• Annual salary review
• Paid volunteering day

Requirements

• Strong understanding of UK wildlife, survey methods and ecological principles
• Solid knowledge of UK conservation legislation and Scottish planning systems
• Experience delivering and reviewing PEA, protected species and EcIA reports
• Confident client engagement and project‑management skills
• Full UK driving licence
• Willingness to travel and occasionally work outside standard hours

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