Ready to lead nationally significant Habitat Regulations Assessment work and shape the future of HRA delivery?
Join a multi-award-winning consultancy where your leadership and technical expertise will drive innovation, influence strategy and deliver real environmental impact.
Purpose & Scope of the Role
We are seeking an Associate Director/Director level ecologist with strong Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) expertise to lead and grow our national HRA capability. You will play a strategic role within a UK-wide ecology team, contributing to the expansion of our European presence and strengthening an already diverse HRA project portfolio.
Working within a multidisciplinary consultancy, you will collaborate closely with planning, engineering and environmental teams, supporting projects across sectors including residential, energy, infrastructure, minerals and defence throughout the UK and Ireland.
Your Impact in this Position
As the national HRA lead, you will set technical direction, drive innovation and ensure excellence in the delivery of HRA and RIAA outputs. You will lead programme delivery, support business growth through bids and tenders, and build strong client and stakeholder relationships.
You will mentor and develop a team of specialists, embedding best practice and ensuring high-quality outputs, while influencing how HRA is applied across complex and high-profile projects.
Core Capabilities
Technical Leadership in HRA
- Lead delivery and quality assurance of HRA and RIAA across a national project portfolio
- Apply deep knowledge of Habitat Regulations, policy and best practice
Strategic & Commercial Awareness
- Shape service growth and contribute to business strategy
- Lead and review bids, tenders and commercial opportunities
Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
- Build strong relationships across multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders
- Engage confidently with local authorities and clients
Team Leadership & Development
- Mentor and develop technical specialists, fostering a high-performing team
- Promote knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
Programme & Project Delivery
- Oversee complex project delivery as Programme Manager
- Ensure innovative, client-focused and compliant solutions
Skills, Experience & Qualifications
- Extensive experience in Habitat Regulations Assessment, including complex and large-scale projects
- Strong leadership and team development experience
- Excellent understanding of relevant legislation and guidance
- Proven stakeholder engagement and commercial awareness
- Relevant degree and professional membership (e.g. CIEEM); Chartered status desirable
- Public Inquiry experience highly desirable
Working Environment
This role offers fully flexible, hybrid working across a network of UK offices, with no fixed office attendance requirements. You’ll have the freedom to work where and when you are most effective, with options for flexible hours, compressed or reduced working patterns to support work-life balance.
