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Vacancy: Ecological Consultant

EP Ecology is seeking to employ a skilled ecologist to help deliver a growing workload of projects throughout Central Scotland.

Salary: £30,000-£33,000 p/a

Hours: 40 hours per week + TOIL / OT

Based: Based in the EP Ecology Office within High Blantyre with home working and flexible working hours permitted as well as sites across Scotland.

Start date: July/August 2024 (To be discussed)

About the Company
Founded in June 2020 as a “one man band”, EP Ecology has continued to grow and we are looking to expand our pool of ecologists to assist with project delivery. We work across a broad range of sectors from energy to transport and commercial property to residential dwellinghouses. Our work covers the length and breadth of Scotland from our base at the Hamilton International Technology Park in High Blantyre, South Lanarkshire. We take on projects as both direct award from clients and as sub-consultants to larger companies and our workload currently looks to comprise mainly nocturnal bat surveys alongside preliminary ecological appraisal and protected species surveys.

The company is committed to the highest standards of ecological practice and have been granted Registered Practice Status by CIEEM. Furthermore, EP Ecology offsets carbon emissions through a carbon capture scheme.

More details about the company can be found here, and about some of our recent projects can be found here.

About the Role
As a consultant grade within the team, your role will be to support the director and junior staff in the day to day delivery of projects. This will involve both fieldwork (including helping to train junior staff) as well as report authoring and reviewing. There will be opportunities to take on project management and client-facing elements of this role and the ability to carve out your own set of projects from tender through to final project delivery as desired.

As part of this role, the successful candidate will occasionally be expected to be the point of contact for our junior team and external clients in the absence of more senior staff; and represent the company at meetings and conferences.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

This role will require:

• Minimum Associate membership of CIEEM;

• Experience of PEA, and protected species surveys;

• Full UK drivers licence and access to own vehicle;

• Knowledge of Scottish planning system including planning policy and species survey/impact assessment guidance;

• Understanding of the risks and hazards associated with outdoor working and remote working;

• Willingness to stay away from home as required;

• The right to work in the UK;

• A genuine enthusiasm for conservation and outdoor working; and

• The ability and confidence to work alone and as part of a team.

Desirable Criteria

Candidates with any of the following are particularly welcome:

• NatureScot Bat licence holder and competence leading on bat surveys and reporting;

• A degree in a relevant ecological field;

• Full membership of CIEEM (or higher);

• Expertise and licenses in any of the following areas: great crested newt, birds including schedule 1, and higher-level botany;

• Experience as named ecologist on protected species derogation licenses;

• Experience of ECoW work;

• CSCS Card Holder (ecologist);

• First aid trained;

• Off-road driver qualification;

• Health and safety qualifications;

• Tree climbing and aerial rescue qualification; and

• Competence with QGIS/QField.

Company benefits:

• Flexible working time and patterns;

• 28 days annual leave;

• Unlimited discretionary training budget;

• Paid volunteer time; and

• Professional memberships paid.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying, please send a CV (max. 4 pages) and a short (c.500 word) summary of why you are right for this role to: erik.paterson@epecology.co.uk

Closing Date

Closing date and time for this role is: 17:00 on Friday 14 June 2024.