Associate Director

Associate/Associate Director (Ecology)

Location: Daresbury

Salary: £55,000 - £65,000 depending on experience

At Origin Enterprises, we are dedicated to championing sustainable land use, and our Environmental teams support a diverse range of clients and projects—from land management and development to restoration and conservation.

Joining us means becoming part of a collaborative, purpose driven community where this collective expertise enables us to deliver high quality, fully integrated solutions and contribute to meaningful environmental outcomes across the UK and Ireland.

About Avian

Avian Ecology is a growing ecological consultancy delivering complex infrastructure and land-use projects across the UK, with a strong and expanding portfolio in the renewables sector including onshore wind and solar projects.

We are led by skilled ecologists who also understand business. We deliver a professional service based on pragmatic advice, strong relationships and robust reporting. Our belief is that progressive development and the conservation of our natural heritage can co-exist, as we have demonstrated time and again through our projects across the UK.

The role will include:

As our business continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced Associate, or Associate Director (Ecology), to strengthen our technical leadership team. Working alongside our existing Associate in Scotland and our wider senior leadership team, you will play a key role in delivering technically robust ecological advice, supporting project delivery and developing our growing team.

This role is ideally based at our Daresbury (Warrington) office, although hybrid working will be considered.

• Leading the delivery of complex ecological projects, particularly EIA and NSIP developments
• Providing technical leadership and support to project teams across a broad range of ecological disciplines
• Technical report writing and peer review including EcIA, ES Chapters, HRA and other ecological assessments
• Supporting survey design, impact assessment and mitigation strategies
• Advising on Biodiversity Net Gain and protected species licensing
• Leading client relationships on key projects and acting as a trusted technical advisor
• Preparing fee proposals and supporting tender submissions
• Mentoring and developing Principal Ecologists, Senior Ecologists and Consultants
• Supporting resource planning and project delivery across the ecology team
• Contributing to technical standards, innovation and continuous improvement
• Working closely with the wider leadership team to support the continued growth of the business

Key Requirements:

• Degree qualified in Ecology or a related discipline
• Full CIEEM Membership (or eligible)
• Significant consultancy experience, at Principal Ecologist level or above
• Demonstrable experience leading complex ecological projects
• Experience of EcIA, Environmental Statement and HRA authorship and/or technical review
• Strong knowledge of UK ecological legislation, planning policy and best practice
• Experience of protected species mitigation and licensing
• Good understanding of Biodiversity Net Gain
• Experience mentoring and developing technical staff
• Excellent communication and client management skills
• Commercial awareness with experience preparing tenders and fee proposals
• Experience of Planning Appeals and/or DCO Examinations would be advantageous
• Full UK Driving Licence (desirable)

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who enjoys solving complex ecological problems, supporting colleagues and building strong client relationships.

You may already be operating at Associate or Associate Director level, or you could be an experienced Principal Ecologist looking to take the next step in your career.

This is an opportunity to influence the technical direction of a growing consultancy while continuing to work on some of the UK's largest and most interesting infrastructure and renewable energy projects.

Why work for us?

We offer a competitive and supportive rewards package designed to help you thrive both professionally and personally. This includes Life Assurance, access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and paid professional memberships such as CIEEM. We’re committed to continuous development, offering a blend of internal and external training opportunities to help you grow your skills and advance your career.

As part of our inclusive culture, you’ll have the opportunity to join our monthly Neurodiversity Café, take part in community action days, and benefit from our family friendly policies, including enhanced family leave options. While we value time spent together in our offices to collaborate and stay connected, most roles offer hybrid working and open conversations around flexibility.

You’ll also enjoy 25 days’ holiday, regular performance and development reviews, and the chance to collaborate across the wider Origin Group, especially within our growing family of Environmental businesses.

We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds and are proud to be building a diverse, inclusive team where everyone can grow, contribute and feel valued.

Visit our website to learn more — and grow with us.

#growwithus