About the job
Due to continued expansion, we are looking for a graduate or early-career ecologist to join our industry-leading team and play a vital role in preserving Ireland's unique biodiversity.
Much of our work is remote and on-site, so while you will need access to a vehicle, we are happy for your home base to be our Dublin, Cork or Kilkenny office.
About us
SLR are global leaders in environmental and advisory solutions helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals. We are a consultancy with over 2,500 employees across 6 regions, including over 1,000 staff across Europe. Our 'one team' culture is at the heart of our business, providing a collaborative and supportive environment for professional development.
Along with competitive salaries, our people enjoy a comprehensive benefits package with a company pension plus excellent healthcare offering, travel and life insurance, critical illness cover and a structured career framework with regular reviews offering outstanding opportunities for progression. Alongside 25 days' annual leave, SLR offer flexible, agile and hybrid working which enables staff to tailor hours worked around core hours, and our family friendly policies help balance the needs of professional and family life.
The role
Depending on your previous experience, you will be involved with assisting with/leading on ecological desk studies, field surveys and protected species mitigation for a variety of proposed development projects on the island of Ireland. In addition, the job will involve report writing duties and assisting in general office tasks including maintaining and monitoring ecological survey equipment. For graduates there will be strong emphasis on learning and development, including participation in SLR's ecology training programme. As skills are developed there will be an opportunity to take on more responsibilities and to progress your career in ecological consultancy.
Duties are likely to include:
• Carrying out habitat surveys, e.g. Fossit surveys or similar, with the ability to differentiate habitat types in the field
• Carrying out ecological surveys for a range of fauna, including reptiles, otter, badger, bats, birds etc.
• Developing a good understanding of wildlife legislation and policy, and then being able to communicate this clearly to colleagues, clients, and contractors
• Keeping accurate field notes in accordance with the principles of scientific data collection, plus handling, recording and storing data effectively
• For experienced Ecologists, preparation of fee proposals and scope of works, report writing and editing/review of peer and sub-contractor reports
• Travel to project sites and working away from home, potentially for extended periods
About you
We are looking for someone with previous consulting ecological experience or an ecology (or similar) graduate.
You will have experience of field surveys, as well as strong written skills and an understanding of statistics. Access to a car and the ability to drive is essential, as is a willingness to travel and spend time away from home at project sites. Strong field skills in at least one group (e.g. birds, bats, plants) are highly desirable.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
SLR Consulting is committed to being an equal opportunities employer, and our expectations go beyond purely complying with legislation. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) are at the core of who we are and who we choose to be. We embrace diverse cultures, perspectives, skills, and experiences within and outside our organisation. We respect and celebrate difference to ensure SLR is a place where everyone feels included, is encouraged to be their authentic self and has opportunities to grow.
Across Europe, our DE&I agenda is driven forward through our DE&I Committee, which actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion across both our internal processes and our client work. Globally, our Global Culture & Diversity Council brings together representatives from across our regions to share ideas and best practice that can be incorporated into our global policies, enabling greater transparency and supporting the development of an inclusive culture, inclusive approaches to policies and practices, and to personal behaviours.