Principal Technical Consultant: Nature and Biodiversity
ERM · Dublin
The Principal Ecologist is a senior technical specialist responsible for leading complex ecological assessments, providing expert advice to clients and project teams, and supporting the growth, quality, and delivery performance of CPD ecology services. The role combines technical leadership, project delivery, client engagement, and mentorship, with accountability for quality, programme, and commercial outcomes on ecology‑led and multidisciplinary projects.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Delivery
- Act as technical lead for complex terrestrial, freshwater and/or ornithological ecology scopes across infrastructure, energy, renewables, and development projects.
- Lead and review Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), NIS inputs, biodiversity chapters for EIAs, and supporting technical reports.
- Provide authoritative advice on planning policy, protected species legislation, habitats regulations, and biodiversity net gain (BNG).
- Oversee and quality‑review field survey design, interpretation of results, and mitigation strategies.
- Ensure technical outputs meet ERM quality standards, best practice guidance, and client expectations.
Project & Commercial Management
- Support or lead project delivery, including scope definition, programme planning, budget control, and risk management for ecology packages.
- Contribute to proposal development, including methodology writing, resourcing, pricing, and technical input to bids.
- Identify opportunities to grow ecology scopes within wider CPD projects and frameworks.
- Support workload planning and resourcing discussions in collaboration with team leads.
Client Engagement
- Build trusted relationships with key clients, acting as a senior technical point of contact.
- Represent ERM in technical meetings with regulators, statutory consultees, and stakeholders.
- Provide pragmatic, solution‑focused advice to help clients navigate consenting and environmental risk.
People Leadership & Mentoring
- Provide line management and/or technical mentoring to consultants and senior consultants within the ecology team.
- Support capability development, knowledge sharing, and upskilling within the team.
- Contribute to succession planning and talent development initiatives within CPD Ecology.
Quality, Governance & Continuous Improvement
- Champion high standards of health, safety, and environmental performance.
- Contribute to internal technical communities, guidance development, and innovation initiatives.
- Support continuous improvement in ecology delivery efficiency and consistency.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Degree (or higher) in Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related discipline.
- Extensive experience delivering ecological consultancy services in Ireland and the UK.
- Strong working knowledge of wildlife legislation, planning policy, and environmental consenting processes.
- Proven experience leading ecology inputs to EIAs and large infrastructure projects.
- Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, programmes, and client relationships.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Desirable
- Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. CIEEM) at an appropriate level.
- Chartered Ecologist or working towards chartership.
- Specialist expertise (e.g. ornithology, freshwater ecology, BNG, protected species licensing).
- Experience working within multidisciplinary project teams.
- Experience contributing to frameworks or long‑term client programmes.
Behaviours & Attributes
- Credible senior technical authority with a collaborative mindset.
- Commercially aware and delivery‑focused.
- Calm and pragmatic under pressure.
- Committed to developing people and building high‑performing teams.
- Aligned with ERM values and purpose‑led consultancy.
Reporting & Interfaces
- Reports to: Ecology Team Lead / Technical Discipline Lead
- Works closely with: EIA Leads, Project Managers, Technical Directors, and CPD Leadership
- Interfaces with clients, regulators, and statutory consultees
Why This Role Matters
Principal Ecologists play a critical role in enabling CPD to deliver complex projects efficiently, manage ecological risk for clients, and maintain ERM’s reputation for technical excellence while supporting sustainable growth.
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