You will be responsible for providing ornithology and wider biodiversity inputs to a range of international projects, working closely with other disciplines to ensure ecological objectives for projects are delivered successfully, within budget and to programme.
The tasks will include coordinating and undertaking ornithology and biodiversity reviews and assessments as part of EIAs and due diligence, designing survey/monitoring methods, liaising with and coordinating local consultants, preparing biodiversity management/action plans etc.
There may be a need to travel overseas occasionally and for short periods. Depending on the qualifications, experience and goals of the candidate, this role may also include a proportion of UK ecology work including fieldwork.
Candidate Specification
Essential:
- Undergraduate degree in ecology, biology, zoology or directly related subject
- Extensive experience in leading and undertaking survey/monitoring methods and data analysis for birds
- Good understanding of main international, UK and lender (in particular IFC Performance Standard 6) policy and legislation on biodiversity and nature conservation
- Experience in projects funded by International Financial Institutions, including windfarm projects
- Familiarity with the EIA processes
- Member of a professional organisation
- Strong report writing skills, attention to detail and ability to write concise reports in English
- Ability to work independently and in a team, take the initiative, make robust, defensible decisions and work to tight deadlines to meet client needs
- Experience in working directly with clients and stakeholders
- Basic understanding of GIS to be able to work with our GIS team
Desirable:
- MSc or PhD in one of the disciplines mentioned above, or in biodiversity conservation
- Experience in onshore and offshore bird collision risk assessment
- Familiarity with survey/monitoring methods for species other than birds
- Experience in undertaking due diligence to international financial institutions' standards (in particular, the IFC)
- Experience in undertaking critical habitat assessment and biodiversity offsetting assessments/plans
- Work experience in Asia, Africa and/or Latin America
- Proficient in French and/or Spanish
- Experience in overseeing and training junior staff
- Willingness to travel and undertake fieldwork in the UK and internationally
Mott MacDonald has a fantastic opportunity for a talented Senior Ornithologist with international experience to join its team in the UK (location is flexible). There is excellent scope for career development in our environmental business, either in the UK or abroad. We provide international biodiversity consultancy services on a broad range of projects in renewable energy and many other sectors and industries. Our international biodiversity consultants have worked on projects in more than 70 countries on six continents in the last ten years.
The Mott MacDonald Ecology team is an exciting place to be, with over 120 Ecologists and an excellent forward order book. We are building a practice that can last. We are passionate about providing our clients with sustainable solutions by constantly looking at challenges from a fresh angle. For us to continue maintaining our collaborative client relationships and further grow our environmental capabilities, we are on the hunt for like-minded, forward-thinking individuals to add to our growing UK Ecology Team.
We are serious about biodiversity and ecology; this opportunity primarily focuses on growing our practice capability in the UK and international sectors; realising the potential of our people and thereby contributing to our wider environment and ecology team's targets and growth opportunities.
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