Senior Ecologist

An established and growing environmental consultancy in Southampton is seeking an experienced Senior Ecologist to play a pivotal role in delivering high-quality ecological services across the South of England. This is an opportunity for a commercially aware, technically strong ecologist to shape projects from inception to completion-working across residential, commercial, infrastructure, and conservation schemes. The successful candidate will bring expertise, leadership, and strategic insight to a dynamic and collaborative team.

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Paid professional memberships and CPD support
• Clear pathway to Associate level and beyond
• A collaborative, forward-thinking culture
• Opportunity to shape strategy within a growing consultancy

• Lead and manage a diverse portfolio of ecological projects
• Design and oversee surveys (PEA, protected species, BNG, habitat condition assessments)
• Produce high-quality technical reports and review work from junior team members
• Provide strategic ecological input at planning and design stages
• Mentor and develop early-career ecologists
• Build and maintain strong client and stakeholder relationships

• Extensive field survey experience and protected species knowledge
• Strong report writing and project management capability
• A sound understanding of planning policy and biodiversity net gain
• Protected species licences (desirable)
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., CIEEM)
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated Senior Ecologist to take the next step in their career-leading projects that make a measurable difference to biodiversity while contributing to the growth and success of a respected environmental practice in Southampton.

If you'd like to hear more about the role, please contact Ashleigh Garner from Penguin Recruitment.