Principal / Associate Director Ecologist

Company Description
**At AECOM, we’re delivering a better world.**

We believe infrastructure creates opportunity for everyone. Whether it’s improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive.

Our clients trust us to bring together the best people, ideas, technical expertise and digital solutions to our work in transportation, buildings, water, the environment and new energy. We’re one global team - 47,000 strong - driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world.

**Here, you will have freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.**

We will give you the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion - a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

We will encourage you to grow and develop your career with us through our technical and professional development programs and diverse career opportunities. We believe in leadership at all levels. No matter where you sit in the organization you can make a lasting impact on the projects you work on, the teams and committees you join and our business.

We offer competitive pay and benefits, well-being programs to support you and your family, and the development resources you need to advance your career.

When you join us, you will connect and collaborate with a global network of experts - planners, designers, engineers, scientists, consultants, program and construction managers - leading the change toward a more sustainable and equitable future. Join us and let’s get started.

**Job Description**:
AECOM has an exciting opportunity for a passionate and quality driven Ecologist / Botanist to join our growing Environmental group, working within our Natural Resources team both across Victoria and interstate.

In this position, you will be leading a range of projects for a diverse array of clients across transport, renewable energy, Defence and the resource sectors. This role presents an excellent opportunity for someone who is looking to take the next step in their professional career, or a senior who is looking to further develop their skillset working in an international consultancy.

Some of your responsibilities will include:

- Planning and implementation of ecological investigations, including:

- Baseline ecological surveys
- Regional ecosystem verification assessments
- Bio-condition assessments
- Targeted flora and fauna surveys
- Fauna Habitat Assessments
- Offset suitability surveys
- Data analysis, mapping and impact assessment
- Preparation and review of technical reporting, including investigation reports, constraints assessments, species management plans, offset strategies and environmental impact statements.
- Management of ecology projects and client relationships
- Preparing proposals
- Mentoring junior staff
- Business development
- Developing and maintaining technical networks
- Participating in technical leadership initiatives across the environment team.

**Qualifications**:
Ideally, you will have:

- Relevant tertiary qualification in environmental science, natural resource management or similar
- Significant proven relevant ecological experience (ideally 10 years+), preferably within a consulting environment
- Proven experience of habitat, and protected species surveys
- Experience with GIS desktop and data collection packages such as ESRI ArcGIS
- Working knowledge of Commonwealth and Victorian environmental legislation relating to the environment and an understanding of the relevant planning systems (e.g., EPBC Act, FFG Act, Planning and Environment Act
- An understanding of the principles of Habitat Hectare assessments (VQA accreditation highly advantageous
- Experience delivering ecological field programs including baseline and targeted survey
- Victorian driving licence.

Additional Information
**Benefits at AECOM**

We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer, and inclusion and diversity are embedded in our core values and are key drivers of our success. Our innovation is enhanced by our ability to draw from a wealth of different backgrounds and experiences. Our teams are made of diverse individuals who work collaboratively to deliver a better world.

As a leader in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues, at AECOM, we prioritise and respond to environmental and net-zero mandates for ourselves and our clients, and support projects and programs that uplift communities and create positive social impact.

We provide a welcoming and stimulating work environment and offer many benefi