Consultant Ecologist / Senior Ecologist

Bioscan is one of the longest-established consultancies specialising in applied ecology and has an enviable reputation for quality, integrity, independence and punching above its weight. Our diverse client portfolio draws from the commercial development, public, charity and voluntary sectors and our work covers the full diversity of projects from ecological impact assessment, through protected species licensing and mitigation to conservation commissions, research, expert witness work and habitat management. Employee satisfaction is very high and staff turnover very low.

We are in high demand and having to turn interesting and exciting work away due to capacity constraints and therefore we are looking to fill one (or more) position(s) at consultant or senior level. We are looking for high-calibre candidates able to demonstrate a high standard and depth of practical ecological knowledge and experience, project management and client interface skills, very strong technical abilities, and a track record of excellence in outputs.

Specifically, successful candidates would be expected to have all or most of the following:

• A degree in ecology or a relevant subject;
• Proficiency in survey and identification for one or more taxonomic groups of UK fauna and/or flora (e.g. botany at minimum FISC Level 3-4 or equivalent);
• Demonstrable proficiency with UKHab, and its translation across to and interface with other survey and assessment systems, such as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and the National Vegetation Classification (NVC);
• One or more protected species licences, or proven experience of working under protected species licences;
• Excellent standards of written output and a pride in the precision and quality of their work;
• Proven project management expertise, from tendering to final deliverables, and associated client care and junior staff management;
• Knowledge of UK wildlife legislation and the planning system;
• Demonstrable knowledge and practical experience of a range of assessment systems including Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA);
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work within a small, close-knit team;
• Willingness to be based within commuting distance of our offices just south of Oxford (or potentially from a satellite office in Thurrock, Essex); and to travel for fieldwork and work away from home;
• Professional, well-organised attitude;
• Full driving licence.

The following skills and experience are also desirable:

• Use of QGIS or similar for creating plans and calculating BNG;
• Analysis of bat calls using Kaleidoscope or similar;
• An ability to identify birds by song and be familiar with the BTO species codes.

In return, successful candidates will join a small, friendly team of eleven staff based in rural surroundings just outside Oxford and will benefit from in-house and paid external CPD provision, generous pension provision, staff socials and other rewards, a credit-based TOIL system for fieldwork, flexibility in working arrangements, and being part of a highly regarded practice that is often at the cutting edge.