Senior Ecologist (Belfast/ Cork/ Dublin)

Market Environmental

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

As part of a collaborative and growing team, you’ll contribute to the delivery of complex and high-profile projects, providing expert ecological input that helps balance development, biodiversity and environmental stewardship.

You’ll support and mentor junior team members, build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, and help drive high standards of technical excellence across the business.

This is more than project delivery – it’s an opportunity to make a visible and meaningful contribution to sustainable development, nature recovery and resilient infrastructure at scale.

What’s In It For Me

🌍Global reach– collaborate with 600+ ecologists worldwide and tap into unmatched expertise

📈Clear progression– structured development through our Global Career Framework & Chartership Academy

Develop technical excellence– strengthen your expertise across a broad range of sectors while supporting and mentoring early-career ecologists

Influence major projects– work on a range of high-profile, complex infrastructure projects across water, transport, and energy and multiple local authorities

🌱 Champion biodiversity– help shape sustainable solutions that balance development needs with nature recovery and environmental stewardship

💡 Build your professional profile– develop trusted client relationships, contribute to thought leadership, and be recognised for delivering high-quality ecological outcomes

You’ll be trusted to lead, supported to grow, and empowered to make a genuine difference.

About the Opportunity

We’re looking for a Senior Ecologist to join our Irish ecology team, to take a leading role in some of the most transformative infrastructure projects in Europe. From the ground-breaking Rail Infrastructure Protection Projects which is the largest coastal protection initiative in Europe, to pioneering underground electricity cable schemes of unprecedented scale. You’ll be at the forefront of projects that protect communities, drive innovation, and advance sustainable infrastructure.

In this role, you will:

Lead delivery of high-profile, complex infrastructure projects across water, transport, and energy and multiple local authorities

Balance site and desk-based ecological work, contributing to surveys, assessments and project planning

Use your expertise in habitat and protected species surveys, Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW), EIAs, AAs, and Biodiversity Net Gain/No Net Loss to inform project decisions

Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, ensuring ecological considerations are understood, integrated and actioned

Design and lead ecological monitoring programmes, overseeing survey teams and ensuring delivery of high‑quality field data

Be a trusted expert -acting as the primary point of contact for clients and stakeholders and confidently communicating ecological advice

Mentor and learn, contributing to team capability building and engaging with global communities of practice, conferences, client engagements and training events

Here's what you'll need

You’re a confident, forward-thinking leader ready to take the next step.

A background in terrestrial ecology with a significant number of years’ relevant industry experience.

Proven experience delivering ecological surveys, impact assessments, biodiversity management planning and reporting in Ireland/UK

Strong knowledge of Irish and EU environmental legislation (e.g. Habitats Directive, EIA, AA/Natura Impact Statements)

Full membership of a professional body (or experience to obtain full membership). 

Experience in running ecological inputs on medium-large scale projects. 

Outstanding written and verbal skills with good attention to detail. 

High level of personal responsibility.

Strong report writing and client-facing communication skills

Ability to manage site work independently and collaborate within multi-disciplinary teams

Willingness to travel for fieldwork

Ideally you'll also have:

Experience working on infrastructure, energy, water or transport projects

GIS skills (e.g. ArcGIS/QGIS) and data analysis experience

Sound botanical survey skills and experience of habitat identification and classification using the Fossitt Guide to Habitats in Ireland (or equivalent Phase 1 Habitat Survey experience).

Experience of leading ornithological and/ or bat surveys

Full clean driver’s licence

Why Join Now?

People are Jacobs’ greatest asset, and we offer a competitive package to retain and attract the best talent.

In addition to the benefits you’d expect, Irish employees also receive:

up to8%company contribution into their pension; 

life assurance and income protection scheme

reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships;

support to their local communities through our Collectively program which incorporates matched-funding, paid volunteering time and charitable donations; and, 

opportunity to buy/sell annual leave.

Wellbeing support and resources are available to UK employees comprising the following: 

Free employee medical cover and digital GP service.

Mindfulness Platform. 

Dedicated Workplace Support 1:1 Counselling Consultations. 

Confidential information & counselling service provided by Optum. Emotional Wellbeing Solutions is a free confidential information and counselling service available 24/7 via phone or online. Experienced consultants are available to discuss finance, legal, family matters and counselling can be provided for personal support. 

Personalised financial planning and support provided by Origin, with 1:1 access to dedicated certified financial planners. 

 Fertility and family benefits and support are available to Irish employees comprising the following: 

Enhanced parental leave pay.

Fertility healthcare and family-forming benefit provided by Carrot. With Carrot, you can virtually chat with experts, explore educational resources, find a vetted provider, and use employer-sponsored funds to pay for care. Get support with: understanding fertility health, preservation (egg, sperm, embryo), assisted reproduction (e.g., in vitro fertilisation), adoption, gestational surrogacy, donor assistance, pregnancy, menopause, and low testosterone.

A free parental success solution and neurodiversity training benefit provided by Rethink Care Family. The family solution gives you and your family 24/7 access to behavioural health support tools and resources to help parents or caregivers of children raise happy, healthy and resilient children.

Bridge the Gap is our parental transition programme which aims to make Jacobs employer of choice for working parents, supporting them before, during and after the life-changing milestone of becoming a parent. Bridge the Gap supports our efforts to create an environment where we can bring our authentic selves to work and achieve our full potential.

Work-life balance and flexibility is a key focus area for Jacobs. We’re happy to discuss the different working patterns we offer:

hybrid working;

part-time roles; 

flexible working hours including compressed hours (working full-time hours over fewer days); and, 

annualised hours contract (working a defined number of hours over a year with an estimated average weekly hour pattern). 

We also offer the ability for employees to take time off in lieu to ensure staff have time to rest and recuperate between busy periods.

#LI-NC2 Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.
With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at .
We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our .
Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit to view and access our roles.
As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via .