Principal / Associate Ecologist

About the Role

In this Principal/Associate Ecologist role you will be responsible for staff wellbeing, mentoring and career development, line‑manage team members, and collaborate with regional and UK ecology leaders on utilisation, recruitment, training and placement of staff. You will run regular operational briefings, ensure effective communication within the team, and influence project design and implementation across all stages of the project life‑cycle to promote best practice. • Lead staff wellbeing, mentoring and career development for Southampton Ecology Team • Line‑manage team members and coordinate utilisation, training and recruitment with regional leaders • Conduct regular operational briefings and meetings for effective team communication • Provide ecological advice across all project life‑cycle stages, influencing design and best practice • Contribute to ecological data tools and biodiversity projects (e.g., NHS hospitals, water treatment, local nature recovery)

Key Responsibilities

• ▸team mentoring
• ▸line management
• ▸operational briefings
• ▸ecological advice
• ▸data tools
• ▸biodiversity projects

What You Bring

Candidates must hold a degree in Ecology or a related subject, have ecological consultancy experience, be a Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (or achieve chartered status within six months), and possess strong communication, report‑writing and technical specialism such as protected‑species licences or advanced botanical skills. Desirable attributes include people‑management experience, project‑management skills, bid preparation experience and willingness to travel across the UK. Mott MacDonald does not currently offer Skilled Worker visa sponsorship following the UK government changes to the route in April 2024, but welcomes applications from candidates eligible for alternative immigration routes. • Degree in Ecology or related subject (higher degree advantageous) • Experience in ecological consultancy or equivalent transferable skills • Full Member of CIEM (Chartered Ecologist/Environmentalist/Biologist) or ability to achieve within 6 months • Strong communication and report‑writing skills; experience reviewing ecological deliverables • Technical specialism (e.g., protected‑species mitigation licences or advanced botanical skills) • People‑management experience (desirable) • Project‑management experience (desirable) • Experience preparing bids and cost estimates (desirable) • Willingness to travel throughout the UK (desirable) • No Skilled Worker visa sponsorship currently offered; applications accepted from candidates eligible for alternative UK immigration routes

Requirements

• ▸ecology degree
• ▸ciem member
• ▸species licences
• ▸report writing
• ▸project management
• ▸people management

Benefits

The Southampton office is conveniently located near the train station and comprises 11 members ranging from graduate to senior associate level. The team works closely with the wider ecology group, offering opportunities for career progression and a dynamic, client‑focused commercial environment. Accessibility support is available throughout the recruitment process for disabled candidates, and the firm promotes agile and flexible working to accommodate personal responsibilities beyond the workplace. A comprehensive benefits package is offered, covering health and wellbeing, financial security, generous holiday entitlement, enhanced family and carer leave, continuous learning and development, and participation in employee networks and community social outcomes. • Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues • Health cash plan covering everyday health costs • Free access to Peppy menopause support • Comprehensive wellbeing programme for employee and family • Salary‑flex options for additional health benefits extendable to family • Pension contributions matched at 4.5%–7% • Life assurance up to 4× salary (option to increase to 6×) • Income protection scheme with long‑term illness support • Flexible benefits such as increased life cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing • Annual bonus schemes sharing business financial success • 33–35 days holiday inclusive of public holidays, with buy/sell option; increases to 35 days after 5 years • Employee saving schemes and retailer discounts • 26 weeks paid maternity/adoption leave; 2 weeks paid paternity/partner leave • Shared parental leave up to 24 weeks at full pay • Up to 5 additional caring days, 2 paid • Annual professional institution subscription • Mentoring, formal training and self‑development opportunities for technical and soft skills • Access to employee networks supporting LGBTQ+, gender, race, disability and parent/carer groups • Opportunities to contribute to community social outcome projects

Work Environment

Hybrid