W&E Principal AD Ecologist all offices

W&E Principal AD Ecologist all offices Principal / Associate Director Ecology - UK Wide with focus on, Birmingham, Scotland, Peterborough, London, Newcastle

Your Impact

This is your chance to lead from the front and shape the future of ecology. We're looking for experienced and driven Principal Ecologists or Associate Directors to join our team nationally. We're open to individuals joining any of our offices, but have a focus on Newcastle, Birmingham, London, Peterborough, Edinburgh and Glasgow teams.

You'll take on line-management responsibilities and support the development of a high-performing team, while influencing decisions on nationally significant energy and water infrastructure, major highway and rail schemes.

Your expertise will directly influence decisions that impact communities, environments and sustainability outcomes for decades to come.

This isn't just leadership - this is visible, meaningful impact at scale.

What's In It for Me

At Jacobs, we don't just offer jobs, we build careers. You'll be joining a respected and ambitious company with a strong reputation for excellence and innovation. Our commitment to your growth is backed by:
Global Career Framework - chart your path with clarity and purpose
Chartership Academy Programme - support to achieve professional accreditation
Employee Networks & Communities of Practice - connect with 600+ ecologists worldwide and influence beyond the UK
A culture of collaboration and sustainability - work on projects that matter

You'll be given the autonomy, support and platform to lead with confidence and make a tangible difference.

About the Opportunity

In this role, you will:
Help steer the strategic direction of the team, contributing to wider UK ecology leadership
Lead and inspire colleagues through empathetic, high-impact leadership and mentoring
Act as a trusted advisor - the go-to expert for clients, stakeholders and regulators

Lead high-value client relationships and represent Jacobs externally
Oversee and guide deliverables such as Ecological Impact Assessment, Biodiversity Net Gain, Habitats Regulations Assessments and biodiversity strategies
Design and lead ecological monitoring programmes and survey strategies
Work across disciplines to deliver integrated, innovative project solutions
Play a key role in identifying, bidding and winning new work
Champion your team internally, raising its profile across the wider business
Oversee resource planning for the teams to ensure workloads are balanced and projects are properly supported

This is a rare opportunity to step into a role where you can combine technical excellence, strategic thinking and people leadership - all while working on projects that truly matter.

We Offer

Competitive salary: We offer compensation that reflects your skills and experience

24 days holiday + option to buy a further 10 days

Robust Pension Contributions: We offer enhanced pension contributions up to 10% to secure your future

Comprehensive Health Coverage: Single medical cover and Digital GP service, with options to add your partner and family

Employee Networks: We have a commitment to hiring a diverse workforce and supporting colleagues of different backgrounds

Family Planning Support: Access to fertility healthcare and family planning services

Enhanced Parental Leave: Enjoy enhanced parental leave pay and free membership to employee assistance and parental programs

4 Life assurance at 4x your salary

Income Protection: Financial security in case of long-term illness or injury

Wellbeing Hub: Free access to wellbeing apps like Calm and Daily Burn

Professional Development: We cover professional membership fees and provide continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities

Community Engagement: Participate in charity matched-funding, paid volunteering time, and charitable donations

About the Opportunity

We're looking for a Principal Ecologist or Associate Director to help lead our Birmingham ecology team - a pivotal role within our UK ecology business.

You'll combine strategic leadership, technical excellence and people development, working across an exciting portfolio of projects spanning water, transport and energy infrastructure.

In this role, you will:

Help steer the strategic direction for the Birmingham ecology team and contribute to UK-wide leadership

Act as the go-to expert, providing high-quality advice to clients, stakeholders and regulators

Build strong relationships through extensive client and stakeholder engagement

Lead and inspire colleagues through empathetic, high-impact leadership and mentoring

Apply your technical expertise across EIA, Habitat Regulations Assessment and Biodiversity Net Gain

Design and oversee ecological monitoring and survey programmes

Collaborate across disciplines to deliver integrated, innovative solutions

Play a central role in identifying, bidding and winning new work

Promote the ecology team's capability across the wider business and externally

This is your opportunity to shape not just projects, but people, performance and the future direction of the team. You're an experienced ecology leader who brings both credibility and vision.
A strong background in terrestrial ecology with significant industry experience
Chartered status (or ready to achieve it)
A strategic mindset, with the ability to contribute to senior leadership decisions
Proven experience in line management, mentoring and developing teams
Strong client-facing skills and confidence engaging with stakeholders and regulators
A flexible approach, with willingness to travel across the UK and Ireland when needed
A proactive, hands-on leadership style with strong self-awareness
The ability to adapt and thrive across diverse, complex projects

We'd be especially excited if you bring experience in:
Innovative scoping of ecological inputs
Protected species licensing and biodiversity enhancements
Project consenting and construction environments
Stakeholder and regulator engagement
Planning inquiries and examinations

But beyond experience, what really matters is your ability to think differently, challenge the status quo, and spot opportunities to improve how we deliver for our clients.

Why Join Now?

Because this is more than a leadership role - it's your chance to define the future of ecology within a global organisation while working on projects that shape the world around us.

If you're ready to lead and influence, we'd love to hear from you.

Our Benefits

In addition to the benefits you'd expect, UK employees also receive:
up to 10% company contribution into their pension,
reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships,
support to their local communities through our Collectively program which incorporates matched-funding, paid volunteering time and charitable donations,
opportunity to buy/sell annual leave.

Wellbeing support and resources

free employee medical cover and digital GP service, including support for obtaining formal diagnosis for ASD, ADHD and Tourette syndrome under Private Medical Insurance
a mindfulness platform,
dedicated Workplace Support 1:1 Counselling Consultations,
confidential information & counselling service provided by Optum. Emotional Wellbeing Solutions is a free confidential information and counselling service available 24/7 via phone or online. Experienced consultants are available to discuss finance, legal, family matters and counselling can be provided for personal support,
online demand fitness platform provided by Daily Burn,
personalised financial planning and support provided by Origin, with 1:1 access to dedicated certified financial planners.

Fertility and family benefits and support:
Enhanced parental leave pay,
Fertility, reproductive health and family-building support through Carrot, including fertility preservation, fertility treatment, adoption, surrogacy, donor assistance, pregnancy menopause and low testosterone support
A free parental success solution and neurodiversity training benefit provided by RethinkCare Family. The family solution gives you and your family 24/7 access to behavioural health support tools and resources to help parents or caregivers of children raise happy, healthy and resilient children: 1:1 digital & live support - unlimited access to Board Certified Behaviour Analysts and thousands of clinically validated audio/visual trainings, including support with ADHD & developmental disabilities.
Bridge the Gap is our parental transition programme which aims to make Jacobs employer of choice for working parents, supporting them before, during and after the life-changing milestone of becoming a parent. Bridge the Gap supports our efforts to create an environment where we can bring our authentic selves to work and achieve our full potential.

Birmingham West Midlands United Kingdom Leeds West Yorkshire United Kingdom Glasgow Lanarkshire United Kingdom Edinburgh East Lothian United Kingdom London Greater London United Kingdom Newcastle Tyne and Wear United Kingdom Northminster Peterborough United Kingdom Environmental Environmental

Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business . click apply for full job details