Consultant - Aquatic Ecologist

Role: Consultant - Aquatic Ecologist Location: Bristol, Harwell or Manchester - Hybrid Salary range: 28,000 - 40,000 per annum plus benefits Role ID: 2024 - 2601 Our vision is to create a safe and sustainable world We are currently looking for a Consultant Aquatic Ecologist, with a focus on freshwater/fisheries and/or environmental assessments to join the Ecology and Environmental Assessment team. Key responsibilities Provide technical input across the Ecology team to deliver knowledge in freshwater/fisheries related investigations across all project stages, from bidding/feasibility/optioneering, field survey programming, environmental assessment and interpretation of data; A good understanding of WFD assessments, in particular the biological metrics and indices that inform ecological status; Leading, planning and co-ordinating field surveys, analysing and interpreting survey results and planning and co-ordinating ecological mitigation works; Whilst fieldwork skills are needed for this role, there will be a large component of office-based coordination, data analysis, client contact and report writing; Key competencies and experience A degree in a relevant subject, such as ecology or other biological sciences, and/or a relevant postgraduate qualification. Knowledge of UK and EU Wildlife Legislation (in particular - Habitats Regulations Assessment), planning policies, licensing requirements and best practice survey techniques. Be organised with proven ability to multi-task and handle several projects simultaneously Skills and Behaviour Excellent written and verbal communication skills; be able to write accurate technical reports. Excellent team working skills are therefore essential together with strong communication skills. Be able to represent Ricardo and its clients to key stakeholders, including wide-ranging technical engagement and consultation with regulators, and ability to communicate confidently with a variety of stakeholders. Desirable Membership of relevant professional institution; EcIA and WRMP options appraisal understanding and/or experience would be an advantage. Working with Ricardo You will be warmly welcomed into our workplace where every voice matters. We are diverse thinkers and doers, coming together to create a culture of inclusion. We will support you to find your place. We will encourage you to use your passion and expertise to make a positive impact through the projects you work on. Your knowledge and desire to bring about change will be invaluable in helping deliver innovative solutions that support communities across the globe in becoming safer and more sustainable. Work life balance We offer flexible approaches to work, whether that is working from home, being in the office, or as a hybrid worker. We're happy to discuss flexible working arrangements. Wellbeing is at the core to our culture, allowing employees to flourish and to achieve their full potential. Benefits We want you to know how much you are valued. Your remuneration and benefits package will reflect that. You will receive a range of benefits which include support for your physical and mental health. Our core benefits include 25 days' annual leave, plus 8 flexible bank holidays, a competitive company pension scheme, life assurance and professional subscriptions reimbursement. We also offer a wide range of flexible benefits to suit your lifestyle. Next steps Once you have submitted your application a member of our Recruitment Team will be in touch. Please be aware that the timing can vary dependent on the volume of applications that we receive for each role and in some cases, we may start to review applications prior to the closing date. Ricardo is a Disability confident employer please advise the recruitment team via if you require any adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion statement We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person's potential, and we'll help you reach yours. We have an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach as explained here. We value diversity; recognising that a more diverse workforce creates a richer and more varied working environment. Diversity also drives innovation, by allowing us to offer our clients the best consultancy service that we can. As part of our commitment to engage positively and pro-actively with all our employees and to ensure an inclusive culture, we are a recognised as a 'disability confident' employer.