Assistant/Consultant Ecologist | Thetford

Dalcour Maclaren is seeking a full-time Assistant/Consultant Ecologist in Thetford, UK, to support ecology site work and report preparation. Responsibilities include conducting habitat and species surveys, producing technical reports, and liaising with clients. Candidates should have a relevant degree, strong writing skills, and be willing to travel across the UK. Benefits include annual leave, health membership, and flexible working options.
At Dalcour Maclaren, we're key players in the Utilities and Infrastructure industry, bringing the UK and Ireland closer to Net Zero every day. Our land, environmental and geospatial experts work together to unlock the consents needed by our clients to deliver key projects. Our services include land access and assembly, agricultural liaison, planning, environmental impact assessments and geospatial mapping. Join us, and play your part in helping us to achieve our vision; to be the professional services team of choice, leading the Utilities and Infrastructure industry to a sustainable future.

Our Environment and Planning Team provide expert and pragmatic technical advice to clients throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Due to an expanding and diversifying workload we have a requirement for a permanent full-time Assistant or Consultant Ecologist to undertake ecology site work and support in the preparation and writing of reports via data processing, analysis, and interpretation.

Key Responsibilities:
• Undertake and assist with field-based habitat surveys and assessments, as well as desk based surveys for legally designated sites.
• Undertake and assist with field surveys for a range of protected species including bats, reptiles, amphibians, badger, and water vole.
• Assist with technical ecological report production, including collating and analysing survey data as well as writing reports with support from senior colleagues.
• Undertake Ecological Clerk of Works on-site support for contractors, where necessary.
• Professional liaison with clients and colleagues to organise surveys, and prepare risk assessments.
• Assist with Biodiversity Net-Gain Assessments, including field-based habitat condition assessment, and desk based biodiversity metric calculations.

As an Assistant/Consultant Ecologist, you will need:

Essential
• An undergraduate degree in a relevant subject (e.g. Ecology, Wildlife Conservation, Zoology), with a strong academic record.
• Excellent writing skills.
• A basic familiarity with UK wildlife and habitats
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment, with effective teamwork and excellent communication skills.
• Willingness to travel across the UK, with some requirement for over-night stays.
• Willingness to undertake field work across a variety of terrains and in varying weather, sometimes in hazardous environments.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a suitable vehicle.
• Based in East of England, or willing to relocate.

Desirable
• A relevant postgraduate qualification.
• An understanding of UK wildlife legislation.
• Some relevant survey experience in a consultancy setting, or wildlife conservation organisation, and ideally exposure to ecological report writing.
• A CSCS card.
• CIEEM membership

Benefits:
• Annual bonus scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus 1 day to celebrate your birthday
• Vitality Health Membership (including Private healthcare, subsidised gym membership and other discounts)
• Flexible working through our ‘Flexible Advantage’ supporting working families & your work/life balance
• Pension Scheme via The Peoples Pension
• Life insurance (4x Base Salary)
• Free on-site parking in non-city centre offices
• Cycle to work scheme
• 26 Weeks paid Maternity Leave
• 2 Weeks paid Paternity Leave
• BHN Extras – provides discounted gift cards for hundreds of popular retailers
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme (provided by Octopus Electric Vehicles) effective at 1 years’ service
• Sabbatical Policy effective at 3 years’ service
• Professional development – paid study leave
• Military service paid leave (7.5 days per year)
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) plus wider Mental Health & Wellbeing support
• 2 x Company-wide events every year, in addition to multiple office socials throughout the year

Dalcour Maclaren is an equal opportunities employer.