Principal Ecologist
? Principal Ecologist
? Cork, Dublin or Carlow
? Hybrid options | ? Field and client travel required
? Permanent | Salary DOE
Love ecology, but ready to spend more time influencing major projects than counting bats at midnight?
We are supporting a leading Irish multidisciplinary consultancy with the appointment of a Principal Ecologist to join its growing in-house Ecology team.
This is a senior technical and contract-leadership position working across renewable energy, waste management, roads, greenways and major civil-infrastructure projects. You will shape survey strategies, lead ecological assessments, advise multidisciplinary teams and defend high-quality evidence through the Irish planning process.
? What you will be doing
? Leading ecological consultancy contracts from survey scoping through planning and construction
? Overseeing Appropriate Assessment Screening and Natura Impact Statements
? Leading Ecological Impact Assessments and EIAR Biodiversity chapters
? Planning and supervising habitat, bird, bat, mammal, aquatic and other specialist surveys
?️ Preparing and overseeing CEMPs, mitigation plans and construction-stage ecology
? Acting as an expert witness at Oral Hearings
? Advising clients, engineers, planners, regulators and statutory bodies
✅ Reviewing technical reports and maintaining strong quality standards
? Mentoring ecologists and supporting team development
? Managing fees, programmes, subcontractors, resources and client relationships
? Supporting tenders, proposals, frameworks and repeat business
? What we are looking for
✅ Degree in Ecology or a closely related discipline
✅ At least 10 years of post-graduate environmental consultancy experience
✅ Membership of CIEEM, CIWEM or a comparable professional body
✅ Strong knowledge of Irish wildlife and nature-conservation legislation
✅ Direct experience with AA Screening, NIS, EcIA and EIAR Biodiversity reporting
✅ Experience preparing and overseeing CEMPs
✅ Proven expert-witness or Oral Hearing experience
✅ Strong client-facing and multidisciplinary project-management skills
✅ Full clean driving licence
Additional strengths could include:
? Bats
? Ornithology
? Aquatic ecology
? Habitats and botany
? Marine or coastal ecology
? Invasive species
?️ ECoW and construction monitoring
⚡ Wind, solar, grid or renewable-energy projects
?️ GIS and ecological constraints mapping
? What is on offer
✨ Hybrid working options
⏰ Flexible start times
? Shorter Fridays
? Five dedicated CPD days each year
? Structured career progression
?️ Generous annual leave plus company days
? Health and wellbeing support
? Professional-membership and training support
? A genuinely varied national project portfolio
Ready to help major infrastructure and development projects work better with nature? Apply today!