Principal Ornithologist
📍North Wales, Inverness or Edinburgh | Hybrid/Flexible
Full time or part time considered
Company Overview - well-established, highly respected environmental consultancy that has spent over 15 years at the heart of the UK's net-zero economy.
- Big influence, medium-company feel: the person will have much more visibility and impact than they would at a larger consultancy.
- Strategic importance: ornithology is a key part of the renewables and overhead line work, so this hire really matters.
- Shape the service line: the role has genuine scope to help lead and develop the ornithology community of practice.
- Cross-business reach: influence ornithology delivery across the wider business, not just one office.
- Collaborative technical environment: work closely with GIS/modelling teams and has developed innovative modelling approaches.
- Brilliant reputation for problem-solving: the work involves challenging sites and sensitive species, which suits someone who enjoys complex technical delivery.
- Supportive structure: there’s scope to tailor the role around the person’s strengths, especially if they bring BD or broader business leadership.
- Flexible working: part-time candidates would be considered
With a reputation for expert, fuss-free advice and a genuinely collaborative, one-team culture, they support developers and infrastructure clients across the low carbon sector - from renewable energy to major nature-based and biodiversity-led projects.
They are known in the market as a people-first business: one that invests seriously in developing its staff, encourages innovation from every level, and backs it up with real career progression rather than just promising it.
For a senior specialist looking for a business that will genuinely listen to their ideas and back their growth, this is a rare opportunity.
The Role
This is a senior, leadership-level opportunity to join a highly regarded Ecology team as Principal Ornithologist, working closely with the organisation's Senior Leadership Team.
You'll take a lead role in shaping and delivering ornithological services across a portfolio of medium and large-scale projects central to the low carbon economy - while also playing a genuine hand in developing the team's future direction, from service innovation to how data is collected and analysed.
Key Responsibilities
- Direct and manage a range of medium and large projects delivering high-quality Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Habitat Regulations Appraisal (HRA) services
- Play an active role in shaping the ornithology service offering, bringing new ideas to life as practical client solutions
- Build and maintain solid stakeholder relationships with bodies
- Own and grow key client relationships
- Work alongside a highly regarded in-house GIS team to strengthen expertise in collision risk modelling, spatial modelling, displacement analysis, and population viability analysis
- Support with resource and business planning, or learn if stepping up
- Mentor and advise junior team members - deputising where required
- Act as a trusted technical authority, championing best practice both internally and with external partners
About You
- Experience in ornithology/ecological consultancy
- Onshore renewables or wind farm EIA
- Proven people management and staff development experience.
- Comfortable leading both technically and commercially; BD capability would be a plus.
- Able to work across complex/problem sites and collaborate with GIS/modelling teams.
- Working knowledge of UK legislation and guidance relevant to ornithological assessment
- Confident communicator, able to flex between strategic and highly technical conversations with clients and stakeholders
- A genuinely collaborative, flexible approach to team working, paired with natural curiosity and an appetite to innovate
- Sound understanding of health & safety practice and risk assessment relevant to ecological fieldwork
What's on Offer
- Competitive salary, benchmarked to experience and market rate
- Annual discretionary performance bonus (paid out in each of the last three years)
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and a pension scheme
- Flexible benefits including an employee assistance programme, cycle to work scheme, and tax-free childcare
- Genuine hybrid/flexible working to support work-life balance
- A clear, supported path for career progression, underpinned by a buddying and mentoring culture
- The opportunity to lead on high-profile, cutting-edge projects shaping the UK's low carbon future
Next Steps
APPLY NOW or reach out to Jim Merryfield at CleanTech Talent
Feel as though you're operating at a senior level but don't hit all the requirements? We encourage you to apply as we have flexibility based on the individual experience.
CleanTech Talent are acting as the employment agency for this position.