Senior Ecologist

Senior Ecologist

Shape Environmental Outcomes Across the UK and Ireland. Tetra Tech is seeking to appoint a Senior Ecologist to join our Planning & Environmental team. Based in our Belfast office, this role offers the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of ecological, environmental and planning projects across the UK and Ireland.

Work based in a large, permanently desked office located on the edge of the city with on‑site parking, strong public transport connections and access to major road networks. The role supports hybrid working, with an expectation of two to three days per week in the office to facilitate mentoring, collaboration and team coordination. Flexible working arrangements can be accommodated where project responsibilities allow. The multidisciplinary environment provides exposure to marine, coastal, regeneration and renewable related developments across the UK and Ireland.

Purpose & Scope of the Role

As a Senior Ecologist, you will deliver high-quality ecological input across a wide portfolio of projects. You will take a lead role in designing and undertaking ecological surveys, interpreting data, assessing habitats and species, and producing clear, robust and well-structured reports to support planning applications, marine licensing processes and other environmental approvals. You will liaise with clients, regulators, colleagues and wider project teams to ensure that ecological considerations are integrated into planning, design and construction from the outset.

You will support coordination of multidisciplinary project teams, contribute to feasibility assessments, undertake research and analysis, and represent Tetra Tech in community or stakeholder consultations where required. Your work will combine office-based report writing with site-based survey activity across the UK and Ireland, offering a varied and engaging workload across different landscapes and development types. You will also contribute to business development, supporting senior leaders in maintaining client relationships and identifying opportunities that strengthen our ecological service offering.

Your Impact in this Position

Your work will directly influence the environmental quality and ecological integrity of development projects across the region. By bringing technical insight, sound judgement and attention to detail, you will help clients understand the ecological implications of their proposals and support them in achieving regulatory compliance while enhancing biodiversity outcomes. You will play an important role in shaping sustainable design approaches, identifying mitigation measures and supporting the delivery of nature-positive solutions that contribute to environmental resilience.

As you progress in the role, you will further develop your sector expertise, contribute to technical leadership within the ecology team and support the continual improvement of our methodologies, reporting standards and client service. Your contribution will be reflected in the clarity of your advice, the confidence you inspire in clients and the added value you bring to complex environmental and planning projects.

Your Toolkit for Success at Tetra Tech

Ecological Expertise & Technical Capability

• Strong technical experience in Phase 1 habitat assessments, protected species surveys and ecological appraisal, supported by a solid understanding of the ecological characteristics of the UK and Ireland.
• Experience in undertaking bat surveys, mammal surveys and wider ecological fieldwork to interpret environmental constraints, analyse data and produce clear, evidence-based recommendations.
• Confidence reviewing construction and design plans, understanding how proposals manifest on the ground and identifying ecological opportunities and risks at each project stage.
• Commitment to high standards, scientific accuracy and environmental stewardship.

Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• Effective communicator who can liaise confidently with clients, colleagues, regulators, stakeholders and community representatives.
• Ability to explain ecological issues to both technical and non‑technical audiences, ensuring that findings, implications and recommendations are understood and acted upon.
• Interpersonal skills, professional approach and collaborative mindset to develop strong relationships across the business.

Project Delivery & Management

• Strong organisational capability, managing own workload and contributing to efficient coordination of project teams.
• Ability to progress projects from concept through to completion, working under pressure while maintaining quality and consistency in outputs.
• Competent in GIS and Microsoft Office applications, capable of producing clear, concise and well-structured reports that support planning and licensing submissions.
• Effective time management, delivery of ecological solutions and meeting project deadlines.

Regulatory Awareness & Environmental Governance

• Strong understanding of UK and Irish environmental policy, ecological legislation and regulatory processes relevant to development and land use planning.
• Knowledge of protected species legislation, habitat regulations and environmental assessment requirements to guide clients through complex approvals processes.
• Ability to advise on ecological mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures, ensuring proposals align with statutory obligations and good practice standards.

Mandatory Requirements

Hold a degree in an ecological or environmental discipline and be a member of CIEEM or an equivalent professional body. Have significant previous experience in an ecological consultancy role. Hold a full current driving licence and have access to transport to enable travel to survey sites across the UK and Ireland. Demonstrate excellent communication, presentation and report writing skills, combined with the ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Work Patterns and Locations

Based in a large, permanently desked office located on the edge of the city with on‑site parking, strong public transport connections and easy access to major road networks. Supports hybrid working, with an expectation of two to three days per week in the office. Flexible working arrangements can be accommodated where project responsibilities allow.

Equality and Diversity

In alignment with the Equality Act 2010, we will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates and employees requiring additional arrangements. Please inform us if you need any accommodations during the recruitment process or in your day-to‑day role.

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