Field Ecologist

Position: Field Ecologist

Contract Type: Permanent

Organisation: Middlemarch Environmental Ltd

Location: East England/Suffolk

Salary: £27,700 – £33,260 dependent on experience

Hours: 40 hours/week

We are a purpose-led and ethical consultancy and are proud to be the UK’s largest Wildlife Trust Consultancy (WTC), dedicated to supporting The Wildlife Trusts in their goal of driving nature’s recovery. As an award-winning natural environment consultancy that has recently embarked on an exciting period of strategic growth, Middlemarch provides nationwide ecological, arboricultural and biodiversity services, as well as supporting clients with innovative landscape design and nature-based solutions.

We recognise that major infrastructure projects are an essential part of economic development and growth. These projects can often have a large environmental footprint; however, with appropriate ecological and environmental input, the impact can be reduced and positive outcomes for nature can be achieved.

We provide full project lifecycle services, from detailed ecological surveys, mitigation strategies and project licensing, construction phase assurance, site supervision, and post-completion monitoring — leaving no stone unturned to ensure that all major projects align with the latest environmental regulations and best practice.

Working as a Field Ecologist, primarily as an Ecological Clerk of Works, you will represent Middlemarch providing onsite support to clients, ensuring projects are delivered in accordance with project planning constraints, protected species licensing requirements and in line with ecology best practice guidelines. As a valuable member of the major projects team, you will feedback high quality and timely site information and data to the Ecological Project Manager (EPM) to aid with meeting key project deliverables.

Day to day the majority of your activity will be site-based working on major infrastructure and utility developments. Working often with third party contractors you will ensure site specific ecology constraints are clearly established, set out and communicated to contractors.

Specific postholder duties include, but are not restricted to:

• Undertaking pre works checks and surveys for protected species and communicating any finds to site teams and the Ecological Project Manager (EPM).
• Establishing and setting out ecological constraints.
• Supervising project mitigation implementation, site clearance and construction work.
• Auditing project mitigation measures.
• Keeping daily records of works undertaken on site, data collection information feedback to the EPM.
• Assisting in and undertaking, protected species surveys.
• Maintaining Health and Safety standards and up to date documentation.
• Attending client meetings.

The ideal candidate will have a background in either practical field-based ecology or environmental landscaping with a passion for delivering practical ecology.

With good interpersonal skills, you will be able to communicate clearly and confidently with clients, contractors, and your peers.

Working in sometimes dynamic environments, you will be a self-starter, able to adapt to changing situations and take a pragmatic, solutions-based approach to working with others.

Essential:

• Minimum 2 years’ site-based experience.
• Good understanding of mitigation principles.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal and the ability to gain the trust of clients.
• IT literate.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable:

• A valid CSCS card.
• Experience using GIS systems.
• Protected species surveying and monitoring
• Dormouse and/or other Protected Species Licences
• Membership of CIEEM or an environmental equivalent.

As a part of our team, you’ll be offered a competitive salary in line with your experience and skills, the potential for performance related rewards, company pension, and the opportunity for training and continued professional development.

Other benefits include Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Membership, Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aid provision, company away days, and access to our fleet of hybrid and electric pool cars for business use.

Middlemarch celebrates diversity and inclusivity in the workplace and is committed to providing fair and equal access to opportunities for all candidates. Please let us know if you have any reasonable adjustments we need to take into consideration when looking at your application or helping you prepare for interview.