Senior Ecologist

Senior Ecologist

Renfrew
Full-time, Permanent
£34,000–£38,000

A well-established environmental consultancy in Renfrew is looking for a Senior Ecologist to join their growing team. This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced ecologist who enjoys leading projects, supporting junior colleagues, and working across a genuinely varied portfolio of work.

The team operates with a friendly, collaborative culture, a 4.5-day working week, and the flexibility to split time between the office and home. Their client base spans local authorities, major developers, and individual householders, offering a rare mix of technical challenge and community-focused impact.

The Role

As a Senior Ecologist, you’ll take responsibility for delivering and overseeing ecological work across multiple projects. You’ll act as a technical lead, support junior staff, and ensure high-quality outputs across the board.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading ecological surveys and assessments across a range of terrestrial habitats
• Managing projects, budgets, timelines and client communication
• Producing and reviewing high-quality reports, including PEAs, protected species assessments and mitigation strategies
• Providing expertise on protected terrestrial mammals (bats, badgers, beavers, otters, red squirrels, water voles, etc.)
• Undertaking and reviewing habitat surveys (Phase 1, UKHab and NVC)
• Supporting junior team members through mentoring and field-based guidance
• Liaising with clients, local authorities and statutory bodies
• Contributing to internal processes, H&S culture and continuous improvement

Experience in writing or contributing to EIAs would be a significant advantage.

Project Variety

You’ll work across a diverse and rewarding project mix, including:

• Framework contracts for local authorities across the central belt
• Ecological support for large-scale developers
• Surveys and assessments for individual householders
• Long-term ecological management of a nationally important amphibian reserve
• Community-led biodiversity enhancement projects in public greenspaces
• Protected species surveys and licensing work
• Habitat assessments and mapping
• Occasional overnight stays for regional fieldwork

This role offers a balance of field and desk work, with opportunities to specialise further depending on your interests.

Why Join This Consultancy?

• 4.5-day working week
• Hybrid working with flexibility around office/home balance
• Support to gain additional protected species licences
• Paid professional membership
• Opportunities to shape biodiversity projects with local communities
• A close-knit, supportive team with a strong development culture
• Exposure to a wide range of clients and project types
• Genuine autonomy and trust in how you deliver your work

What We’re Looking For

Essential

• Strong ecological consultancy experience, ideally at Senior level
• Excellent knowledge of Scottish ecological legislation, policy and licensing
• Proven experience with protected terrestrial mammals
• Competence in Phase 1, UKHab and ideally NVC surveys
• Strong report writing and project management skills
• Ability to mentor and support junior staff
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable

• Experience contributing to or writing EIAs
• Protected species licences (bats, badger, GCN, etc.)
• QGIS or similar GIS experience