OVERVIEW

Landas Environmental is looking for a Senior or Principal Ecologist to join a small, growing team. This is a senior technical and project delivery role for an experienced consultant who can lead ecological assessments, run survey programmes, advise clients directly, and help set how Landas actually works day to day — not just deliver against a structure that already exists.

Landas provides planning-grade ecological advice for developers, planning consultants, engineers, utilities, infrastructure providers and public bodies, from early feasibility and due diligence through planning, construction and long-term ecological management. The focus throughout is defensible assessment, practical mitigation and advice clients can act on.

We're building Landas deliberately, around a few specific choices: senior-led review on every project, technology used to cut admin rather than add process, an Irish project pipeline with a renewables focus, and a mentoring structure that's documented rather than assumed. Joining now means shaping technical standards, workflows, service lines and client relationships directly, rather than inheriting a fixed structure later.

This role suits someone who wants autonomy and trust in how they work, and who's motivated by building a consultancy properly rather than just staffing one.  

WHY THIS ROLE IS DIFFERENT  

Ecological input is in growing demand across planning, infrastructure, housing, renewable energy, biodiversity and restoration, at the same time as the sector has well-documented capacity and skills pressure. Landas is a direct response to that: senior judgement applied consistently, people developed on a structured basis, ecology brought in earlier in project decision-making, and technology used to remove administrative friction rather than dilute technical standards.

Specifically, you'll have input into:

• Technical standards, reporting templates and QA processes as they're built, not after they're fixed.

• Survey systems and digital workflows — including structured data capture and internal tools — while ecological judgement stays central to every decision.

• The mentoring structure itself: what gets checked, how often, and by whom.

• Which specialist areas Landas builds depth in — protected species, habitats and botany, infrastructure and energy, Appropriate Assessment, ECoW, GIS/spatial analysis, biodiversity advisory or technical review.

THE ROLE 

Ecological assessment and reporting — Prepare, review and oversee ecological reports and planning-stage assessments: Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, Ecological Impact Assessments, biodiversity chapters for EIAR, Appropriate Assessment Screening Reports, Natura Impact Statements, mitigation strategies and related outputs.

Survey leadership and coordination — Undertake, lead and/or oversee habitat, botanical and protected species surveys in line with current guidance and legislation. Coordinate seasonal survey programmes, manage survey data, review mapping outputs, and keep survey effort proportionate and well documented.

Project and client management — Manage projects from instruction to delivery: scoping, fee awareness, programme coordination, resourcing, client communication, risk management, and liaison with design teams, planning consultants and other specialists.

Planning-grade advice — Give clients and design teams clear, pragmatic, defensible ecological advice that reduces planning risk and gets mitigation integrated at the right stage.

Technical leadership and quality assurance — Contribute to technical standards, report review, internal guidance and QA across the business, so outputs stand up to planning and regulatory scrutiny.

Mentoring and team development — Support junior and mid-level colleagues through field supervision, report review, technical guidance and structured professional development — field supervision, report review, project debriefs and CPD, tracked rather than informal.

Innovation and technology — Help develop better ecological workflows: digital data capture, GIS, automation, structured reporting and internal systems, aimed squarely at accuracy, consistency, speed and decision quality.

Professional development and sector awareness — Keep current on Irish ecological legislation, planning policy, assessment practice and CIEEM guidance, and contribute to CPD, internal training and service development.

WORKING AT LANDAS 

We want Landas to be somewhere experienced ecologists choose to work: technically strong, commercially sensible, and genuinely low on bureaucracy rather than just claiming to be. We value people who take ownership, communicate clearly, share knowledge, and want to build something with long-term credibility.

Hybrid working is the default, not a fixed two-days-in-office rule. In-person time is used where it adds value — project planning, collaboration, CPD, key client meetings and periodic team sessions, typically in Dublin. Fieldwork and site attendance vary by project and season.

If you want to keep a strong technical or field component to your role, we're open to shaping it that way, provided it still supports high-quality delivery and mentoring. Full-time and part-time arrangements are both genuinely on the table.

As Landas grows, we want to support different senior routes rather than one fixed career ladder: technical specialist, survey/field lead, project and assessment lead, ECoW/construction ecology, GIS/data, biodiversity advisory, or client-facing. You'll have scope to shape your role around your strengths while contributing to shared standards, mentoring and delivery.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Essential

• Degree in ecology, environmental science, biological science or a related discipline.

• Approximately 4+ years' experience for Senior level, or 7+ years' for Principal level, in ecological consultancy — with scope to shape the final role around the right candidate.

• Strong ecological survey capability across habitats and protected species, including experience coordinating or overseeing survey programmes.

• Proven experience preparing and/or technically reviewing planning-stage ecological reports, including PEA, EcIA, AA Screening, NIS and related assessments.

• Good working knowledge of Irish ecological legislation, planning policy, Appropriate Assessment, environmental assessment processes and industry guidance.

• Experience managing ecological projects, including scope, programme, resourcing, client communication and budget awareness.

• Ability to give clear, proportionate, commercially aware ecological advice while maintaining high professional and ethical standards.

• Strong written communication, technical reporting, review and QA skills.

• Ability to manage workload effectively around seasonal survey windows and planning deadlines.

• A collaborative approach, with willingness to mentor colleagues.

• Openness to digital tools and technology-enabled delivery.

• Full driving licence and willingness to undertake site work as required.

Preferred

• Professional membership of CIEEM or equivalent.

• Protected species survey licences and/or derogation licence application experience.

• Experience with QGIS, habitat mapping, spatial analysis or digital data collection systems.

• Experience on multidisciplinary infrastructure, renewable energy, utilities, grid, public sector or large-scale development projects.

• Experience providing Ecological Clerk of Works services, supervising mitigation during construction, or preparing CEMP inputs, ecological method statements or biodiversity mitigation strategies.

• Experience mentoring junior staff, reviewing reports or supporting technical development within a team.

• Interest or experience in ecological innovation, automation, digital workflows, AI-assisted reporting support, remote sensing or technology-enabled delivery.

• Specialist expertise in botany, habitats, ornithology, bats, mammals, aquatic ecology, invasive species, biodiversity net gain/advisory work, or another relevant discipline.

SALARY & BONUSES

Landas offers a competitive package designed to support professional growth, wellbeing and work-life balance.  

Salary

• Senior Ecologist: €45,000 - €65,000, depending on experience.

• Principal Ecologist: €65,000 - €80,000, depending on experience.

• Discretionary performance bonus.

Pension

• Employer pension contribution of 5% of salary, with employee contribution matching, subject to successful completion of probation period.  

Annual leave and flexibility

• 23 days annual leave plus public holidays.

• Time Off In Lieu policy for overtime and seasonal survey work.

• Flexible working hours to accommodate survey schedules and personal commitments.

• Full-time and part-time arrangements considered.

Health wellbeing and culture

• Strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, safe working practices and sustainable workloads.

• Two volunteer days per year.

Professional development

• Payment of relevant professional memberships.

• Annual CPD allowance and training support.

• Structured mentoring and career progression.

• Opportunity to help shape technical standards, systems, service development and future team growth.

OVERVIEW

Landas Environmental is looking for a Consultant Ecologist to join a small, growing team. This is a technical and project delivery role for a capable ecologist who can contribute to ecological assessments, lead survey work, and manage projects across a varied client and sector portfolio.

Landas provides planning-grade ecological advice for developers, planning consultants, engineers, utilities, infrastructure providers and public bodies, from early feasibility and due diligence through planning, construction and long-term ecological management. The focus throughout is defensible assessment, practical mitigation and clear decision-making.

We're building Landas deliberately, around a few specific choices: senior-led review on every project, technology used to cut admin rather than add process, an Irish project pipeline with a renewables focus, and a mentoring structure that's documented rather than assumed. Joining now means having a genuine say in how the team works, backed by senior technical review and structured mentoring from day one — not a generic "training plan" you never see the details of.

We're looking for someone with a proven track record delivering ecological projects, who also wants to build something rather than just staff it.

WHY THIS ROLE IS DIFFERENT  

Ecological input is in growing demand across planning, infrastructure, housing, renewable energy, biodiversity and restoration, at the same time as the sector has well-documented capacity and skills pressure. Landas is a direct response to that: senior judgement applied consistently, people developed on a structured basis, ecology brought in earlier in project decision-making, and technology used to remove administrative friction rather than dilute technical standards.

As a Consultant Ecologist, you'll:

• Work across a varied portfolio of planning, infrastructure, energy and development projects from an early stage in the company's life, not once it's already set in its ways.

• Build real project management experience on small to medium projects, with senior oversight that's actually available, not nominal.

• Contribute to technology-enabled workflows — digital survey tools, structured data capture, internal QA systems — while ecological judgement stays central to every decision.

• Deepen a specialism over time: protected species, habitats and botany, Appropriate Assessment, ECoW, GIS, or biodiversity advisory work.

THE ROLE 

Fieldwork — Undertake habitat, botanical and protected species surveys in line with current guidance and legislation. Contribute to or coordinate seasonal survey programmes, manage field data collection, review mapping outputs, and keep survey work proportionate, defensible and accurately recorded using digital tools.

Ecological assessment and reporting — Contribute to and prepare planning-stage assessments: PEA, EcIA, biodiversity chapters for EIAR, Appropriate Assessment Screening Reports and Natura Impact Statements.

Project management — Manage your own workload and projects with autonomy, matched to your current experience and supported where needed. Typically this means running small to medium projects from instruction through to delivery: keeping project management tools updated with key metrics, coordinating survey programmes, communicating with clients, planners, engineers and design teams, and supporting senior staff on larger or more complex projects.

Construction and implementation — Provide Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW) services; prepare ecological method statements and CEMPs; deliver contractor toolbox talks and site supervision during sensitive works; support delivery of biodiversity mitigation and habitat creation measures.

Innovation and technology — Use digital mapping and survey tools for efficient assessment and reporting. Help develop Landas's technology-enabled workflows, working directly with the team building them, and support data management and spatial analysis to improve project outcomes.

Professional development — Keep current on ecological legislation, planning policy, assessment practice and CIEEM guidance. Contribute to internal knowledge sharing and CPD. You'll get dedicated time — not just an allowance — to build technical skills and pursue areas of interest.

WORKING AT LANDAS 

We want Landas to be somewhere ecologists choose to work: technically strong, commercially sensible, and genuinely low on bureaucracy rather than just claiming to be. We value people who take ownership, communicate clearly, share knowledge, and want to build something with long-term credibility.

Hybrid working is the default, not a fixed two-days-in-office rule. In-person time is used where it adds value — project planning, collaboration, CPD, key client meetings and periodic team sessions, typically in Dublin. Fieldwork and site attendance vary by project and season.

Career progression at Landas isn't a single fixed ladder. As the team grows, we'll work with you to build on your specific strengths while contributing to shared standards and high-quality delivery.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Essential

• Degree in ecology, environmental science, or a related discipline.

• 2+ years of experience in ecological consultancy or a related role.

• Strong ecological survey skills across habitats and protected species.

• Experience preparing ecological reports to support planning applications.

• Good understanding of ecological legislation and planning processes in Ireland.

• Strong written communication and report writing ability.

• Ability to manage workload and deliver projects to high standards and deadlines.

• Full driving licence and willingness to undertake site work as required.

• Openness and drive to apply new methods and procedures to elevate the current status quo.

Desirable

• Experience providing Ecological Clerk of Works services.

• QGIS or habitat mapping experience.

• Professional membership of CIEEM or equivalent, or working toward it.

• Derogation licence application experience.

• Experience with digital survey tools, GIS or structured data collection systems.

• Interest in ecological innovation, technology-enabled delivery or modern workflow development.

SALARY & BONUSES

Landas offers a competitive package designed to support professional growth, wellbeing and work-life balance.  

Salary

• €38,000 – €45,000 (Consultant Ecologist), depending on experience.

• Discretionary performance bonus.

Pension

• Employer pension contribution of 5% of salary, with employee contribution matching, subject to successful completion of probation period.  

Annual leave and flexibility

• 23 days annual leave plus public holidays.

• Time Off In Lieu policy for overtime and seasonal survey work.

• Flexible working hours to accommodate survey schedules and personal commitments.

• Full-time and part-time arrangements considered.

Health wellbeing and culture

• Strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, safe working practices and sustainable workloads.

• Two volunteer days per year.

Professional development

• Payment of relevant professional memberships.

• Annual CPD allowance and training support.

• Structured mentoring and career progression.

• Opportunity to help shape technical standards, systems, service development and future team growth.