Title: Senior Ecologist (Botany Specialist)
Location: Cork, Dublin or Carlow
Flexibility: Hybrid model of work split in office, fieldwork and home office arrangements
About the hiring company: A multidisciplinary Consultancy that is one of Ireland’s largest Irish owned consultants with centres of excellence in Sustainable Infrastructure, Circular Economy, Environment, and Energy and Planning. Provides planning, environmental studies, preliminary planning design to our clients in the renewable energy sector and provides design and contract management services for the construction of infrastructure projects such as roads, greenways, bridgeworks, rail, solid waste facilities, renewable energy, drainage, water and wastewater treatment facilities, airports, tunnels and gas pipelines.
This position offers exposure to a broad range of areas within the environmental sectors, including but not limited to, constraints and feasibility assessment, planning and EIAR, infrastructure design and development.
The role will be a combination of fieldwork and report writing. The ideal candidate will be able to design, plan and conduct terrestrial ecology field surveys, especially flora and botanical assessments, analyse data and compile technical reports to a high standard.
Responsibilities:
- Undertake complex botanical surveys with classification skills to Fossitt Level III.
- Assess habitat value and carry out impact assessment having regard to Article 17 reporting , CIEEM and NRA guidelines as appropriate.
- Carry out Biodiversity Net Gain assessments and advise on habitat enhancement opportunities throughout all stages of project delivery.
- Implement complex habitat management prescriptions which may include habitat translocation and monitoring programmes.
- Mentor and train early career ecologists on botanical survey.
- Review outputs from colleagues.
- Prepare comprehensive ecological reports, including mapping (supported by out GIS team) and data collation (using Fieldmaps).
- Act as an Expert Witness at oral hearings when necessary.
Skills/Qualifications:
- Honours Degree or Master’s degree in Environment/Botany/Ecology/Conservation or relevant subject
- 5+ years’ experience in environmental consultancy in an Irish or UK context.
- Excellent botanical/habitat assessment and habitat management skills.
- Broad ecological experience on large-scale projects, with expertise in impact assessment.
- Thorough knowledge of ecological legislation and planning policy in Ireland and the EU.
- Excellent report-writing skills.
- Understanding of the EU Habitats Directive as it relates to project-based ecological impact assessments.
- Ability to work in both field and office environments with availability to travel throughout Ireland and overnights away from home.
- A full drivers licence
Benefits:
An attractive remuneration package will be offered to the successful candidate including a competitive salary (€55,000 onwards DOE), shorter working Friday, medical benefit, a company pension scheme, comprehensive annual leave days and professional body support.
All CVs are treated in the strictest confidence. Feel free to submit your CV at isadora@gaiatalent.com
