Senior/Principal Ecologist

At Ocean to Earth Recruitment, we’re excited to be working with a passionate, forward-thinking studio that’s leading the way in delivering nature-based solutions across the UK. Their mission is clear: tackle climate change through creative, land-based design that restores ecosystems, supports biodiversity, and strengthens communities.

This award-winning studio is now seeking a Senior or Principal Ecologist to join their growing Chester-based team. With ecology fast becoming a cornerstone of their holistic landscape and engineering design approach, this is your opportunity to help shape the direction of nature-led projects across residential, education, and visitor destination sectors.

🧭 About the Role:

You’ll work closely with landscape architects and engineers to embed ecology into the heart of the design process. This is a rare opportunity to influence projects from concept to completion—and to grow an ecology team that’s fully integrated into a dynamic design-led environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and support the ecology function across the studio.

• Deliver ecological input on planning applications, surveys, and reports.

• Collaborate with internal teams, clients, and external specialists.

• Develop new business and identify strategic opportunities.

• Write proposals, manage budgets, and ensure programme delivery.

• Champion biodiversity in every aspect of project delivery.

🌿 About You:

You’re a proactive, driven ecologist ready to take a key role in an ambitious, sustainability-led studio. You thrive on collaboration, care deeply about biodiversity, and bring a blend of technical excellence and creative thinking to your work.

Essential Requirements:

• Degree in Ecology or a related field.

• Extensive consultancy experience, including survey design and reporting.

• Strong knowledge of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Net Benefit for Biodiversity in Wales.

• Named Ecologist on Welsh GCN EPS licenses; bat license (Level 2 preferred).

• Additional licensing for dormouse or badger is a bonus.

• Membership of CIEEM or CIWEM.

• Fluent in both Welsh and English (spoken and written).

• UK driving license and access to own vehicle.

🌍 Why Join?

• A studio with values grounded in climate action, biodiversity, and creative design.

• Genuinely multidisciplinary collaboration in a supportive team.

• Exciting, varied project portfolio with a chance to make a real environmental impact.

• Competitive salary, flexible working, and strong CPD support.