Role – Principal Ecologist
Location Suffolk/Remote
Salary £DOE (Enough to keep your binoculars polished and your wellies fresh)
Do you dream in Latin species names? Do you get emotional about moss? Can you ID a bat by its squeak and a badger by its vibe? Then step right up! We are looking for a Principal Ecologist with brains, banter, and a serious love of all things wild.
We are working with a multi-disciplinary consultancy in Suffolk who are looking for someone legendary to lead the ecological charge.
The company are a friendly bunch of environmental designers, ecologists, planners, and landscape dreamers who believe that nature isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s the main event. Their work blends science with creativity, policy with purpose, and muddy boots with big ideas. We specialise in helping landowners, developers, and decision-makers do better by the planet without losing their minds (or their margins). They do real solutions, nature-based, regenerative, genuinely game-changing stuff. Think wildflower meadows where car parks used to be. Wetlands that actually work. Strategic plans that don’t make you cry. If it’s good for biodiversity and built to last, they`re into it.
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING
- Leading ecological bits on projects that involve things like rivers, rewilding, and possibly the odd housing development
- Mentoring the next generation of ecowarriors (you know, the ones who still get excited about survey season)
- Advising clients on how not to destroy everything green and beautiful
- Designing clever solutions that make biodiversity go up and stakeholders go "ooh"
- Writing reports that are both scientifically robust and actually readable (we know, it's a big ask)
- Collaborating with landscape architects, hydrologists, planners, and possibly someone named Steve from drainage
ABOUT YOU
- You’ve been doing ecology so long, your field notebook has vintage status
- You’re confident managing projects, budgets, and the occasional overly enthusiastic badger enthusiast
- You hold survey licences for bats and Great Crested Newts (and are not afraid to use them)
- You can interpret legislation, guide BNG plans, and tell a client “no, you can’t just move the pond” — all in the same breath
- You’re a people-person with enough ecological gravitas to lead teams and charm clients
Bonus points if you:
- Have magical GIS powers
- Speak fluent planning policy
- Can carry a phase 1 kit, thermos, and folding chair in one trip
PERKS OF THE ROLE
- Flexibility to work from wherever your Wi-Fi works and your dog isn’t barking
- Projects that aren’t soul-destroying
- Lovely team with a high tolerance for Latin puns
- Regular fieldwork if you like it, minimal fieldwork if you don’t
- CPD, coffee, cake, and occasional chaos
If you’ve got the experience, the enthusiasm, and a mild obsession with biodiversity, we’d love to hear from you.
THE NEXT STEP
If you are interested in seeing the full job description for this Ecologist role or any other similar opportunities, please click apply and upload your CV. Alternatively, you can contact Amanda Costello on 07501 387866.
All applications for this Ecologist role will remain completely confidential between yourself and Amanda at LEAD Careers You will not be added to any mailing lists and rest assured your details would NOT be passed on to anyone without your prior authorisation.
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Ecologist Jobs in Suffolk, Ecology Jobs East Anglia