PJC Consultancy are a well-established independent and employee-owned consultancy working within the south-east of England, but with our ecology team based in our Ashford, Kent office. We provide a wide range of high-quality ecological and environmental services across a variety of sectors during the planning and development process. We provide a professional, friendly and nurturing working environment, but pride ourselves on not being overly corporate, encouraging a hands-off approach to management, instead preferring to rely on mutual trust and respect. We are a CIEEM Registered Practice demonstrating our commitment to maintaining and advancing high professional standards within the company and across the wider industry. Our growing ecology team is full of passionate and like-minded individuals, all stemming from a mutual interest and background in nature conservation. We believe that ‘development’ and nature conservation are not mutually exclusive and can complement each other. Indeed, given our ‘ecological emergency’ and an increasing awareness of how important it is that everyone has access to nature, our mission is to champion and foster support for nature, contribute to halting and even reversing our historic declines in nature by rewilding our doorsteps, by working closely with and inspiring ‘developers’ (and other key players) to ‘work with nature’ and not against it, to pursue positive nature gains whilst meeting our housing crisis. To meet growing demand and to maintain our excellent professional standards we are now looking to expand our ecology family, specifically seeking a new ecological consultant on a full-time permanent contract. We are looking for the following skills, experience and personality: Most importantly, enthusiasm for ecology and an ambition to advance and drive high professional standards across the company and wider industry; A minimum three years’ experience in ecological consultancy; A degree in ecology or closely related field; Holder of a class 1 (CL17) bat survey licence (holding other protected species survey licences would also be advantageous); Confidence in liaising directly with clients (and other stakeholders) whilst demonstrating excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills; Comprehensive understanding of current and evolving nature conservation legislation and planning policy; Full current UK driving licence; and Willingness to work unsociable hours particularly during the survey season. In return, the successful candidate can expect to receive the following: Competitive salary (£28k to £38k depending on experience); Competitive annual leave package; Annual performance related bonus; Generous professional development training allowance (including payment of CIEEM and Natural England licence fees); Leadership and management, as well as technical specialism pathways; Opportunities for flexible / remote working; Flexible TOIL policy (i.e. take your TOIL when you need / want it); Critical Illness Cover / Employee Assistance Programme; Cycle to Work Scheme; and Access to company vehicles during work hours (not a benefit per-se, but you don’t need to use your own personal vehicle for work which is common place within the industry).