Consultant / Senior Ecologist


Company:	Hays Specialist Recruitment
Salary:	£30,000 - £42,000
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Manchester, M1 1AA
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	24 Jul 2026
Closing date:	23 Aug 2026

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Summary

Your new company

An established environmental consultancy is seeking a Consultant or Senior Ecologist to join its growing team in Manchester. This is an exciting opportunity to join a respected organisation delivering ecological services across a diverse portfolio of residential, commercial, infrastructure, energy and environmental projects throughout the UK.

With Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) continuing to shape the planning and development landscape, the successful candidate will play a key role in supporting clients through ecological assessment, planning and habitat enhancement projects.

Your new role

You will be involved in the delivery of a broad range of ecological services, working closely with clients, project teams and fellow environmental specialists.Key responsibilities include:

Undertaking a variety of ecological surveys and assessments.

Producing high-quality technical reports, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIAs), protected species reports and habitat assessments.

Providing ecological advice to clients and project stakeholders.

Managing ecological inputs across development and infrastructure projects.

Delivering and supporting Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments, habitat condition assessments and BNG strategies.

Applying the statutory biodiversity metric and advising on compliance with BNG requirements.

Supporting project management and maintaining strong client relationships.

Mentoring junior team members and contributing to team development (Senior level).

What you'll need to succeed

A degree in Ecology, Environmental Science or a related discipline.

Previous experience within a UK ecological consultancy or similar environment.

Sound knowledge of UK wildlife legislation, planning policy and best practice guidance.

Experience delivering ecological surveys and technical reporting.

Practical experience of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments and the statutory biodiversity metric.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Good organisational and project management abilities.

A full UK driving licence.

For senior-level applications, experience managing projects, overseeing survey programmes and supporting the development of junior ecologists would be advantageous.

What you'll get in return

Competitive salary of £30,000 - £42,000 (DOE)

Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.

Exposure to a wide range of ecology and BNG-focused projects.

Ongoing professional development and training opportunities.

Support towards professional membership and chartership goals.

Enhanced pension and benefits package.

Clear opportunities for career progression within a growing environmental team.

What you need to do now

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.

If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

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