COOMBES is seeking a full time Senior Ecologist to join our dedicated in-house Environmental team, on a full-time permanent basis. As a key member of the Environment team, you will play an integral role in the development and implementation of our Environmental Strategy, to identify and advise how COOMBES can balance the needs of our projects with those of the environment.

As Senior Ecologist you will establish, manage and develop ecological management strategies, plans and resources across the company. You’ll oversee the delivery of ecological studies and impact assessments across a range of projects and environments, and subsequently implement, monitor and evaluate protective actions or measures that result.

In this hands-on role, you’ll be adept at managing projects from conception to completion. You’ll support all aspects of ecological conservation, advising on best practice, current legislation and policy. You’ll undertake surveys including Protected Species Surveys, Preliminary Ecological Assessments, Ecological Impact Assessments and Habitat Regulation Assessments, and design species and habitat mitigation measures accordingly. You’ll be responsible for the accurate collation of data, information, and analysis, to lead on the production of reports and to keep senior management updated of the ecological status of our active sites.

You’ll assist in the management of the Environmental team by supporting the Environment Manager in the development of the environment strategy, planning and budgets and the management of the ecology resources at COOMBES. You’ll take an active role in supporting, encouraging and mentoring junior members of the team in day-to-day activities, as well as helping them to achieve personal development goals.

About you

As well as sharing the ethos and values of our Company you will be keen to develop your management skills, whilst helping to shape the environmental provision at COOMBES.

You will have significant experience working in a similar Ecologist role. Being up-to-date with current ecology best practices and of relevant wildlife legislation and policy, you’ll be able to provide advice on all aspects of ecology and conservation. With a good understanding of the ecology of UK protected species such as bats, newts and dormice, you’ll hold at least one survey class licences and be actively working towards more. You’ll be an Associate Member of CIEEM, and may be working towards full membership. You will understand the environmental concerns and targets within the built environment and may have previously worked on Rail and Infrastructure projects, and have your PTS.

You’ll be highly-organised, with a pragmatic approach to problem solving, self-motivated and able to work autonomously. Embracing new practices and technologies, you’ll have demonstrable experience of using GIS or mapping software to interpret and analyse environmental data for surveys and reports. You’ll use your excellent analytical and report-writing skills to produce accurate and timely reports. As an inspiring role model, you will enjoy encouraging others to develop.

Naturally, you will be field-based for a significant amount of your time, so you must be happy to work in all that the British weather has to offer! Based in one of our offices in Hampshire or Kent, and conducting field work across the southern region, the successful candidate must be flexible in their approach to work, have a full driving licence and be willing to travel.

Salary: Circa £45,000 per year + company vehicle plus fuel card

Working hours: 40 hours per week. This role will require some out of hours working associated with ecological surveys, including weekends, evenings and overnight.

About us:
COOMBES UK plays a key role in the rail industry, providing a whole manner of off-track solutions, and minor civils works, in partnership with Network Rail and other major contractors.

COOMBES UK is also a leading Arboriculture and Forestry Contractor, with well over a decade of experience and expertise in the forestry sector. We have forged a strong industry reputation and we believe we have an unrivalled skill set and peerless knowledge of forestry work at all levels.

We have seen recent significant growth and we are proud to be a Principal Contractor and Framework Contractor to Network Rail, as well as having some exciting projects underway in woodland management, timber harvesting, rail and civils works across the country. We are seeking skilled and experienced colleagues in a range of disciplines to support our growth and help us provide a service that is second to none.

COOMBES is a family-run SME where we value integrity, a positive ‘can-do’ attitude and working together as one team to give our clients the best possible service. We’re passionate about supporting the professional development of our colleagues and providing a working environment where you can truly be yourself. If this is something you’d like to be part of, please reach out to us – we’d love to

For a role profile, please contact the HR team on <phone number removed> or email <email address removed>. To apply for this opportunity, please forward your CV and a covering letter/email to <email address removed> or to our HR Officer at Coombes UK, Unit 6 New Farm Buildings, Winchester Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3PB.

General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). As part of our recruitment processes, Coombes collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants. Sending us your CV for a vacancy is your consent for us to process your data for the purpose of recruitment. Your data is not use in any other way and you can withdraw your consent at any point in the recruitment process.

We will keep your CV on our records for 6 months after the closing date, at which point it will be destroyed.