Principal Consultant-Ecology

Overview

Lead technical delivery, team growth, and innovation in ecological services for UK projects, using advanced digital tools and global best practices.

What you'll do

• Lead and author high-quality ecological reports, including scoping and baseline sections of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) reports, and related technical documents.
• Oversee quality assurance and technical accuracy of project deliverables, ensuring compliance with UK and European standards.
• Manage and mentor a team of 8-10 ecology professionals, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture and supporting individual career development.
• Take responsibility for securing work, including identifying new opportunities, building relationships and contributing to business growth.
• Contribute to team growth, succession planning, and skills development in line with the latest industry trends.
• Design, supervise, and review ecological and species surveys and habitat assessments relevant to UK and European contexts.
• Apply advanced identification skills for a range of taxa/species associated with key habitats, leveraging international experience and transferable knowledge (e.g., bat species across geographies).
• Demonstrate expert knowledge and application of UK and European environmental legislation, policy, and best practice guidance.
• Utilise advanced digital tools (e.g., GIS, R, Bat Explorer, AI-powered ecology platforms) for field data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Champion digital transformation and innovation within the ecology team.
• Identify and support build areas of standardisation and automation.
• Manage internal and external Quality Audit.
• Take full responsibility for adherence to biosecurity and health and safety protocols across all project phases.
• Act as a key point of contact for clients, regulators, and partners, demonstrating outstanding communication and influencing skills.

What you'll need

• Master's degree (minimum) in Zoology, Ecology, Conservation Biology, or a related environmental discipline.
• 15–20 years of relevant professional experience in ecological consultancy, conservation, or related sectors.
• Proven track record of delivering UK-based ecology projects from India or similar international contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Advanced knowledge and operational proficiency in ArcGIS, bat analysis software, and digital data management tools.
• Proven report writing and review capabilities for large consultancy and donor agencies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present complex information to technical and non-technical audiences.

Nice to have

• PhD and strong industry experience (highly preferred).
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., CIEEM, IES) – or international equivalent (desirable).
• Hands-on experience with AI applications in ecology (strong advantage).
• Proficiency in foreign languages, especially relevant to UK/European contexts (added advantage).
• Experience with global or cross-continental ecological projects.
• Passion for innovation, digital transformation, and sustainability.
• Strong network within the ecology and environmental consultancy community.

Details

• Locations: Bangalore, Karnataka, India; Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India; Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.