Senior Ecologist

Senior Ecologist Somerset / South West | Hybrid (Home-based with Taunton office days) £38,000–£45,000 DOE | Permanent | Full-time About Us BNG Group is a growing ecological consultancy delivering high-quality ecological and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) services across the South West. We're not corporate, but we are professional, values-led, and serious about doing good ecological work properly. We are still at a stage where new team members can genuinely influence how the business develops, from technical standards and internal systems to the types of projects and specialist areas we pursue. We place a strong emphasis on high-quality, defensible ecology, sensible workloads, professional development and maintaining clear boundaries between work and personal time.

The Role We're looking for an experienced Senior Ecologist who can independently lead ecological projects, make sound technical decisions and take ownership of more complex work from initial enquiry through to delivery. The role would suit someone who is confident handling more complex planning and ecological assessment work, including EcIA, HRA and other impact-assessment processes, alongside day-to-day project management and field delivery. You'll manage your own projects and client relationships, undertake and lead fieldwork, produce and review technical reports, programme survey resources and provide pragmatic ecological advice throughout the planning process. You'll also play an important role in supporting the wider ecology team through technical guidance, report QA and informal mentoring, while remaining supported by the Principal Ecologist on particularly complex or sensitive work. This is very much a hands-on ecology role: we want someone who is equally comfortable managing a project, reviewing an EcIA and getting out on site. Key Responsibilities

• Independently manage ecological projects from enquiry and survey planning through to reporting and delivery.
• Undertake and lead PEAs, PRAs, UKHab surveys, habitat condition assessments and protected species surveys.
• Prepare high-quality Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIAs) and other ecological reports for planning.
• Deliver BNG assessments for small to medium-complexity projects, including habitat assessment, condition assessment, statutory metric calculations and associated reporting.
• Prepare and contribute to Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRAs), including screening and appropriate assessment work where competent.
• Undertake and/or support Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP) assessments and associated technical reporting where relevant.
• Provide clear, pragmatic ecological advice to clients, architects and other project team members.
• Programme surveys and coordinate staff and subcontractors.
• Manage project delivery against agreed scope, programme and budget.
• Prepare fee proposals for suitable projects and contribute to larger or more complex quotations.
• Produce and troubleshoot ecological mapping using QGIS.
• Review and QA ecological reports and technical outputs produced by colleagues.
• Provide technical guidance and support to less experienced ecologists.
• Contribute to the continued development of internal technical standards, templates and working practices. Essential Experience We are more interested in proven competence than a particular number of years in consultancy, but applicants must already be operating at a genuinely senior level. You will need:
• Demonstrable experience independently managing ecological consultancy projects.
• Strong experience undertaking PEAs and ecological site assessments.
• Competence in Preliminary Roost Assessments and protected species survey work.
• Strong experience preparing Ecological Impact Assessments and other technical ecology reports for planning.
• Good knowledge of UK wildlife legislation, planning policy and current ecological guidance.
• Proficiency in UKHab classification and habitat condition assessment.
• Ability to independently undertake BNG assessments for small to medium-complexity projects.
• Experience contributing to or preparing HRAs and understanding the Habitats Regulations process.
• Strong QGIS skills, including the ability to troubleshoot routine mapping issues rather than simply follow standard workflows.
• Strong project management, organisation and client communication skills.
• Ability to programme survey work and coordinate resources effectively.
• Experience reviewing technical reports and providing constructive QA feedback.
• Awareness of project budgets and the ability to manage your own time against agreed scopes and fees.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle suitable for business use. Strongly Preferred We would be particularly interested in applicants with:
• A current Level 2 bat survey licence.
• Experience preparing, supporting or being named on bat mitigation licences.
• Experience leading bat emergence/re-entry and other protected species surveys.
• Experience with HEP or comparable habitat evaluation/impact assessment methodologies.
• One or more other protected species licences.
• Strong botanical skills.
• Experience supporting or mentoring less experienced ecologists. Location & Working Pattern
• Primarily home-based.
• Regular site work across Somerset, Devon and the wider South West.
• Occasional in-person working days and meetings in Taunton or other agreed locations.
• Applicants need to be based somewhere that enables South West site work to be undertaken practically.
• 35-hour working week.
• Flexible working around core hours and survey requirements.
• Travel time for business journeys counts as working time.
• TOIL applies to additional hours worked. What We Offer
• £38,000–£45,000 DOE.
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Additional paid Christmas shutdown.
• Predominantly home-based working with clear boundaries around out-of-hours contact.
• Paid business mileage.
• Company survey equipment, software, PPE and home-working equipment as required.
• Professional membership fees.
• Dedicated paid time for agreed CPD, professional development and licence progression.
• Genuine autonomy and ownership of your work, with technical support when needed.
• Opportunity to influence technical standards, systems and the future direction of a growing consultancy.
• A small, collaborative team where senior technical input is genuinely valued.