Consultant Ecologist

Binnies are recruiting for a Consultant Ecologist to play a key role in our Chester-based team within our growing Ecology team (a CIEEM Registered Practice). We focus on high-quality survey and assessment combined with biodiversity enhancement and restoration across sectors including flood, coastal and maritime, water utilities, transport, and renewable power. This role supports our expanding portfolio in England and Wales, including natural capital projects and Solutions By Nature, our RSK joint venture providing nature-based solutions via blue-green infrastructure to the water industry.

About the Role

• Work with the Binnies ecology management team to deliver high-quality ecological surveys and reporting, while supporting the development of junior team members.
• Provide advice on survey requirements to clients and internal project management teams.
• Discuss proposed survey protocols and site-specific survey plans with internal project teams, including writing site and task-specific risk assessments.
• Lead survey teams for specialisms you are qualified and/or licensed in, including managing and analyzing recorded data.
• Author technical reports or report sections for work undertaken.
• Author Preliminary Ecological Appraisals and contribute to Ecological Impact Assessments and Habitats Regulations Assessments (with support from experienced colleagues).
• Collaborate with our BNG, Nature Recovery, GIS, and Digital specialists to optimize surveys and reporting using technology.
• Frequent site attendance in the West of England and Wales to support projects.

Binnies is an Ecological Registered Practice (CIEEM) and Landscape Practice (Landscape Institute), holding the IEMA EIA Quality Mark, reflecting our high standards in EIA delivery.

Responsibilities

• Deliver habitat surveys of non-complex sites, preferably using UKHab (or Phase 1 in Wales).
• Work under statutory survey licenses (either under your own license or accredited under someone else’s).
• Utilize standard survey guidance, techniques, and equipment effectively.
• Develop risk assessments in line with Binnies’ commitment to health, safety, and wellbeing.
• Deliver Preliminary Ecological Appraisals for non-complex sites.
• Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Embrace innovation and advances in technology and ecology.

Requirements

• An ecological/environmental-related degree.
• Several years of professional experience, working toward full membership of CIEEM or equivalent.
• A full UK driving license.

Desirable Skills

• Holding a protected species survey license.
• Experience with data analysis software.
• Field survey data collection app experience (e.g., Field Maps, Survey123).
• Ecological Impact Assessment experience.
• Protected Species Mitigation licensing experience.
• Ecological Clerk of Works experience.
• Previous consultancy experience.

Benefits

• Opportunity to work in a hybrid or full-time capacity from our Chester office.
• Support and mentorship from experienced colleagues in Ecological Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment.
• Engagement with cutting-edge work in Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), GIS, and Digital Ecology.