Gaia Talent currently seeking a Senior Ecologist, to join the growing Ecology Team of our client within the Environment and Planning Division. They provide the opportunity to avail of hybrid working in any of their offices located in Galway, Dublin, Sligo, Limerick, or Castlebar.

The Ecology Team in this renowned client is driven by qualified and enthusiastic ecologists who maintain a full and varied project load from a broad base of private and public sector clients. Their workstream is generated through well-established nationwide client relationships, as well as internal cross-sectional cooperation with other Engineering Divisions within the company.

Core competency:

The successful candidates must have the ability to work in and lead teams in the collection of field data and the preparation of the Biodiversity Chapter and/or Ornithology Chapter of Environmental Impact Assessment Reports (EIARs), Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) reports, and Appropriate Assessment (AA, NIS, NIR) reporting for multiple large complex project types. The successful candidate will also be required to demonstrate project experience in the design and implementation of ecological surveys including habitats, botanical, birds, and protected species surveys, analysis of data, and completion of impact assessments.

Other duties and responsibilities:

The job will involve working with the existing Ecology Team on ecological and environmental aspects of diverse projects including national infrastructure, renewable energy, and private commercial projects.

Responsibilities will include coordinating, supervising, and mentoring other ecologists' (in-house staff and external sub-contractors) work to ensure safe and efficient delivery of work on time and within budget. The role will require managing work schedules/resourcing, providing assistance, guidance, and technical review of other team members' work, and providing on-the-job training and feedback to other staff.

The selected candidate will be required to provide technical ecological advice and recommendations to clients (including face-to-face meetings) where risks may be posed to a project timescale or delivery, as well as liaising with project managers and other project stakeholders including statutory bodies.

As a Senior Ecologist, the role will require the provision of ecological input into desktop studies, scoping studies, site selection, site surveys, Ecological Impact Assessments, Appropriate Assessment reporting, and overseeing the implementation of construction mitigation measures (Ecological Clerk of Works).

The role will also require project management tasks including financial management, producing fee proposals, and tendering for work.

Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of industry changes, best practices, guidelines, legislation, and policy, and providing leadership on the same to other staff members will also be required.

Qualifications and experience required:

Relevant primary degree (Hons.) relating to Ecology/Environmental Biology, additional qualifications preferred.
At least 7-10 years of environmental consultancy experience and a proven ecological track record.
Proven ecological field skills.
Should have experience drafting EIAR chapters, AA Screening, and NIS reports.
Experience in GIS systems (e.g. ArcGIS, desirable but not essential as TOBIN has specialist GIS services in-house).
CIEEM membership preferred.
Experience in coordinating Ecological Impact Assessments as well as project management and liaising with clients and stakeholders.
Excellent report writing and communication skills.
Full driving licence.

What the client offers:

Attractive remuneration package (from €60,000 onwards DOE)
Flexible working hours
Hybrid arrangements
Company pension plan
Tax saver scheme
Generous annual leave allowance
Career pathway program
Cycle to work scheme
Family friend policies
Continuously career development
Employee Assistance Programme
Support for Professional Association Membership

To apply, please submit your CV directly to GreenJobs or by email to isadora@gaiatalent.com