Consultant Aquatic Ecologist

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Job Description

Are you ready to join a team of talented Ecologist’s and shape the future of the environment? 

We are looking for an experienced Consultant Aquatic Ecologist to join the Aquatic Ecology Team at AECOM. We have multi-disciplinary offices throughout the UK, (including Nottingham and Basingstoke), and you would play a key role in providing technical expertise and undertaking surveys for new and existing projects, as well as in the continued growth and development of our team.

You will join a growing, friendly, and highly motivated team, and contribute to a diverse range of project, these include the Environment Agency and Natural England, Water Companies, renewable energy projects, nationally significant infrastructure projects, and many others. We deliver a diverse range of projects, such as: baseline data collection and monitoring for major infrastructure and utility projects, fish passage and weir removal projects, fish rescue and translocation, water quality monitoring for regulators and the private sector, pollution response surveys, drought monitoring – the list goes on!

What your new role will entail;

• Undertaking aquatic surveys in freshwaters
• Working with other environmental specialists and disciplines on important projects, large and small.
• Collecting and/or processing freshwater macroinvertebrate samples in the laboratory, undertaking benthic macroinvertebrate surveys in freshwaters, assisting with fieldwork and sample collection (potentially macroinvertebrate, macrophytes, phytobenthos, fisheries, water quality etc.).
•  Assisting with data entry, analysis, and processing for freshwater projects, contributing to survey reports and ecological appraisals and liaising with project managers and clients.
• Delivery of consultancy and advisory services to a high level of technical quality, while prioritizing safety and security in all that you do
• Assisting with fieldwork and sample collection and data analysis (potentially fisheries, macroinvertebrate, macrophytes, phytobenthos, water quality, etc.) for freshwater projects;
• Contributing to desk studies and literature reviews;
• Contributing to data capture, collation and presentation, survey reports and ecological appraisals which are produced to a high technical standard and within agreed deadlines;
• Assisting in the production of Environmental Impact Assessment documents in line with CIEEM guidelines;

Being part of the team;

You will be involved in monitoring and impact assessment projects for various stakeholders, including Water Companies, Regulators such as the Environment Agency and Natural England, and private clients like National Grid, as well as solar and wind farms and other renewable energy projects. Our Aquatic Ecology team consists of over 20 specialists located throughout the UK, with laboratories in Nottingham and Leeds, and a southern hub in Basingstoke. AECOM offers excellent opportunities for career development and progression, not only within our team but also across a wide range of environmental disciplines.

Become part of our dynamic Nature business, which boasts around 230 professional experts including national and global leaders located across the UK&I, from species licence holders to experts in impact assessment, habitat creation, freshwater ecology, ecosystem restoration, enhancement, and management. At AECOM, you’ll thrive in an inclusive and forward-thinking environment where your contributions are valued. 

As a key member of the Aquatic Ecology team, you will work with other experts as we work to protect, enhance, and restore the aquatic environment.

Qualifications

Here’s what we will need from you;

• You will be adaptable and flexible so that peaks in demands can be met. The role may involve occasional longer / unsociable hours and short periods away from home.
• You will have experience of some or all of the following: aquatic ecology surveys such as fish, macroinvertebrates, crayfish, macrophytes, riparian mammals, River Habitat Survey, etc.
• Qualified to degree level or MSc, or higher, in a relevant subject with some previous experience in an aquatic ecology or similar role.
• Member of CIEEM or similar professional body; or eligible to qualify for this status.
• Relevant training, potentially including Water Safety, First Aid, and a Licence to drive in the UK.
• Good knowledge of current environmental legislation, including the Water Framework Directive

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at View email address on jobs.smartrecruiters.com. At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives. 

If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you! 

Additional Information

Interested in the role or curious about life at AECOM? Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects, and much more! 

For further information about the role, reach out to the recruiter on LinkedIn (Melissa Moody). 

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity 

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well-being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long-term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address  View email address on jobs.smartrecruiters.com if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.