Careers

Location: Barnstaple, North Devon
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Salary: £34k+ depending on experience
Working pattern: Flexible / hybrid, with a minimum of 2-3 days per week in our Barnstaple office

Orbis Ecology has an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated Consultant Ecologist to join our growing team, based in our North Devon office.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys a varied consultancy role, combining fieldwork, technical ecology, project management and client interaction. You'll work on a diverse range of projects across Devon and the wider South-West, with plenty of opportunity to develop your skills and take ownership of your work.

The successful candidate will work on and manage a diverse range of ecology projects, from initial survey and assessment through to report writing, mitigation, monitoring and client liaison.

We are particularly looking for an experienced ecologist with strong knowledge and practical experience of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). You should be confident undertaking all aspects of BNG work and have an excellent, up-to-date understanding of the statutory biodiversity metric.

Strong botanical skills are also important for this role, ideally FISC Level 3 qualified.

The role offers a good balance of field and desk-based work and the opportunity to work across varied project portfolio.

We offer a flexible approach to working hours and can accommodate office-based or hybrid working, with a minimum of two days per week based at our Barnstaple office.

• Significant field survey experience; UK Habitat Classification, River Condition Assessment, Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, Protected Species Surveys.
• Confident ability to use QGIS.
• Excellent report writing skills and technical review experience, to include PEA reports, Ecological Impact Assessments, and other reporting formats.
• Well organised and motivated to work independently and within a small team.
• Strong verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills. You will need to build good relationships with our clients, providing pragmatic advice in a sensitive manner.
• Happy to work independently, often outdoors and be willing to sometimes work unsociable hours during the bat survey season (April - October).
• You will be expected to help on some bat surveys, but it will not be a core part of the role
• A willingness to 'pitch in' and support all aspects of a small ecological consultancy as nd when required.
• A full driving licence and have access to your own vehicle which must have business use insurance. You will have use of a pool vehicle based at the North Devon office.
• Already live in (or be willing to relocate to) the North Devon area.

• Flexible approach to working hours (e.g. childcare commitments)
• Salary £34+ dependant on experience
• 28 days annual leave (incl bank holidays)
• Professional Fees paid e.g. CIEEM membership
• Annual CPD budget to support career development
• Clothing and footwear allowance for fieldwork
• Use of company pool cars for site visits
• NEST Pension Scheme
• Flexible/hybrid working
• Friendly and supportive work environment
• We recognise the importance of a work/life balance and how important this is to staff health and wellbeing. This is carefully managed through sharing workloads, a TOIL/paid overtime policy for busy periods of the year and regular check-ins with staff.

Orbis Ecology is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy/maternity.

As an employer we are committed to promoting and protecting the physical and mental health of all our staff.

If you have any questions about the role, please don't hesitate to get in touch. If you would like to apply, please send your CV and a covering email to: admin@orbisecology.co.uk