Ecologist

Right across infrastructure, there’s a requirement to not only maintain, but also renew and reimagine. Whatever stage you’re at in your career, with us you’ll have an opportunity to grow and develop. Delivering essential infrastructure services for life, while being safety first, and client and customer centric in a friendly, fun and respectful environment where you are encouraged to thrive. Where will you be working? At M Group Highways, we’re supporting the safe transportation and movement of people across the UK. We don’t just build roads and bridges- we’re building a better future, creating lasting social value that gives back to the communities in which we work. You’ll be joining our Highways team, as the UK’s number one highway maintenance contractor, our teams use the latest innovations to create effective solutions. We offer a range of services including planned and reactive maintenance and highway improvement schemes. Want to come and be a part of it?

What will you be doing?

We are seeking an Ecologist to join our expanding team of environmental specialists within our M Group Environmental Solutions (MGES) consultancy function.

Your role will be varied and challenging with opportunities to explore a range of development opportunities and progression routes. Expect to be:

• Working collaboratively with engineers, project managers and delivery teams across all project stages, undertaking ecological appraisals and managing associated deliverables.

   

• Providing a broad range of desk- and site-based ecological consultancy services and technical advice across a diverse portfolio of exciting projects covering Transport, Water, Energy & Telecom sectors.

   

• Presenting appraisal and survey results in a clear, professional and engaging format for different audiences, ranging from technical notes to more detailed reports (e.g. Preliminary Ecological Appraisals).

   

• Delivering Habitat Regulations Assessments, Biodiversity Net Gain Assessments, SSSI Assent applications, and supporting licence applications.

   

• Supporting the development of new service offerings, process improvements, and growth of our internal consultancy function.

   

• Championing opportunities for improvement across the whole project lifecycle through ecological enhancements, nature-based solutions, and biodiversity net gain.

   

• Producing fee proposals, managing delivery within agreed budgets and programmes.

   

• Engaging directly with statutory regulators, consultees, and stakeholders to address ecological constraints and explore opportunities.

   

• Developing and delivering ecological training and communications, whilst also promoting our MGES service offering through internal & external engagement.

What you’ll bring

• Demonstrable design / pre-construction and construction / delivery experience in a similar role with a proven track record of delivering effective desk- and site-based ecological consultancy services within infrastructure sectors.
• Sound understanding of UK environmental / ecological legislation and guidance.
• Ability to work with a good degree of autonomy in a fast-paced environment, managing competing priorities relating to both short- and long-term commissions through effective communication.
• Valid UK driving license and prepared to undertake site-based work 2-3 days/week on average and work from office locations regularly. Willingness to travel across the UK to client offices / sites and stay away from home for short periods as the role requires.
• Chartered (or pursuing chartership) with a relevant professional industry body.
• Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) experience.
• Proficient in the use of GIS and other digital tools.
• Knowledge or experience in ecological consents and licences (more desirable if candidate holds any ecological licence(s)).
• Proven ability to collaborate with clients, planning authorities, regulators, and stakeholders.
• Skills in desk research, data handling, report writing and project management.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written).