Senior/Principal Ecologist, Dublin

We are looking for a senior/principal ecologist to join our growing team in Dublin City. This
post is a dynamic role managing projects and ecological operations of a diverse portfolio in
both the public and private sectors.

If you are interested in applying your ecological and management expertise in a flexible
position with projects ranging from site level private developments to national land use
planning, and helping to expand our ecological division, while also being fully supported in
self-led continued professional development, then this role is for you. You will be joining a
team of experts in Ireland’s longest established provider of planning and environmental
services, that remains at the forefront of environmental assessment and land use and
development planning.

The role

Full time / part time: Full time

Duration: Permanent (subject to successful completion of 6-month probation
period)

Hours: 40 hrs per week

Location: Dublin City

Start date: As soon as feasible

Hybrid working: Minimum of 3 days working in our Dublin City Centre office
during 6-month probationary period (office days to include Monday and Wednesday). Arrangement
will be subject to negotiation after successful completion of probation.

This role will mainly involve working with our senior management team, under guidance from the
Directors, to manage and develop the growth of our ecology division. It is an exciting and
challenging opportunity to utilise your own specialisations and interests to help inform the
direction of growth of a department of ecological consultancy (in consultation with the senior
management team), while managing the current staff and portfolio of work. This will include:
reviewing and signing off on ecological impact assessments and appropriate assessment reports;
management and training of staff; management of procurement and budgeting; and leading
development and selection of new tendering avenues and opportunities for the ecology department
in communication with wider senior management.

This role would suit a confident, creative and determined individual, with significant
ecological and management experience, who is looking for new challenges and areas of
professional growth. It is open for application as a senior ecologist or principal, dependent
on experience. CAAS actively encourages self-directed development with additional
professional/academic courses encouraged each year.

The role will be partly based in our city centre office overlooking the River Liffey, with
family flexible / working from home arrangements available for the right candidate. It may also
involve some site visit work and overnight stays.

Benefits

• Competitive salary (dependent on experience) linked to public sector salary scales
• Family friendly hybrid working / WFH available
• Workplace pension scheme
• Annual CPD budget
• 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays) – rising by one day for each additional year
  until a maximum entitlement
• Cycle to Work scheme

Essential criteria

• At least 9 years’ experience in ecological consultancy or a similar role
• Ecology related postgraduate degree
• High level of experience in designing and performing ecological surveys – particularly
  habitat surveys and multidisciplinary ecological walkover surveys
• Significant experience in project management and working successfully autonomously,
  preferably in the consultancy environment
• Full or Associate CIEEM member (or ability to apply)
• Significant experience in leading the production and reviewing of Ecological Impact
  Assessments and Appropriate Assessments and to a high standard
• Experience in design of mitigation measures for developments
• Experience training of staff
• Specialism in 1 or 2 of the following areas:
  • Bats: potential roost feature surveys, emergence and activity surveys, and identification
    to species level using recorded call analysis;
  • Breeding and winter bird surveys: point count, vantage point surveys etc.;
  • Botanical surveys;
  • Freshwater: water quality indicators, protected species (FWPM, lamprey etc), riparian
    character assessments etc.;
  • Non-volant mammals: otter, badger, hare – surveys using tracks, signs, nesting / burrowing
    sites etc.
• Excellent understanding of ecological processes and theory, and significant experience of
  their application in the consultancy environment
• Excellent understanding of relevant wildlife legislation and policy in Ireland and Europe
• High degree of familiarity with relevant survey and ecological guidelines for planning and
  development in Ireland (and UK guidelines where relevant)
• Highly skilled with writing and translating complex scientific information and concepts to
  the appropriate level for various audiences/readers
• Up to date knowledge of case law, policy and legislation relevant to the role
• High degree of experience working directly with clients and stakeholders, and understanding
  clients’ needs
• Experience with procurement (e.g., E-tenders in Ireland) / funding applications
• Willingness to work flexible hours for fieldwork purposes when required; i.e., travel
  within Ireland and overnight stays
• Publications (conference presentations, journal articles, etc.)
• Full driver’s licence and access to a vehicle
• Display and uphold CAAS values of respect, positivity and professionalism at all times

Desirable criteria

• Ability to use GIS (Arc or Q) for mapping with R/Excel for data manipulation and analysis
• Experience with protected species licencing
• Utilisation of recent technological advancements in data collection and survey methods

Over the past 30 years, CAAS have learned that having varied perspectives helps
generate better ideas to solve the complex problems. The company try to live by this commitment
in ways that range from being supportive of our colleagues in their personal growth and
priorities throughout their personal and professional lives. In CAAS, this means respect and
accommodation for age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability,
ethnicity, and perspective.

Please email a CV (max 3 pages) with details of three references, cover letter (max 2
pages) detailing your suitability for the role, accompanied by two writing
samples, to: [email protected],
with which level (i.e., Senior or Principal) that you wish to apply for in the subject line
with your name: “Senior / Principal Ecologist Application + NAME”.

Position open until filled.