Senior Aquatic Ecologist

Senior Aquatic Ecologist
Location: UK-wide | Flexible/Hybrid Working Options
Sector: Environmental Consultancy / Ecology
Salary: £36,000 – £46,000 (Depending on Experience)

A leading UK environmental consultancy is looking to appoint a Senior Aquatic Ecologist to support its growing portfolio of freshwater and coastal projects. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with solid technical experience in aquatic ecology to contribute to a broad range of projects—from major infrastructure schemes to habitat restoration and R&D initiatives.

You’ll join an established team of ecologists working on rivers, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, and coastal systems. The role combines fieldwork, technical reporting, project coordination, and client liaison.

Key Focus Areas:
We’re particularly interested in candidates with experience in:

• Water quality and hydrology
• Aquatic habitat assessments and biota surveys (macroinvertebrates, fish, macrophytes, diatoms, etc.)
• Ecological impact assessments and regulatory compliance
• Habitat restoration and enhancement

Experience & Qualifications:

• Degree in a relevant environmental or ecological discipline
• Significant post-graduate experience in aquatic ecology
• Full UK driving licence
• Experience with some or all of the following:
• Water quality sampling and monitoring
• Hydrology surveys and flow gauging
• Kick sampling and macroinvertebrate ID
• Electrofishing and fish rescue operations
• Aquatic habitat assessments (RHS, RCS, MoRPh)
• WFD assessments, EcIA, HRA (especially for infrastructure projects)
• Species-specific licences (e.g., white-clawed crayfish, freshwater pearl mussel) are advantageous
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., CIWEM, CIEEM, IFM) preferred
• Chartership not required, but you should be actively working towards it

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and deliver high-quality aquatic ecology field surveys
• Produce and review technical reports and tenders
• Support project management including timelines, budgets, and client reporting
• Contribute to staff mentoring, training, and internal R&D
• Maintain a strong CPD record and uphold high professional standards
• Collaborate effectively across multi-disciplinary teams and departments

Benefits:

• Competitive salary: £36,000 – £46,000 DOE
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Company pension and life assurance
• Structured professional development and training
• Access to technical leaders in aquatic ecology
• Employee wellbeing and assistance programme
• Options for additional holidays, health cover, and more