Senior Associate Ecologist

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

We are seeking a Senior Associate Ecologist (terrestrial) to join our experienced and expanding Adelaide Team in a flexible and friendly working environment. 

In the role you will have the opportunity to lead and deliver diverse, challenging and rewarding ecology projects for Government and industry sectors across South Australia. This includes baseline environmental and ecology studies comprising likelihood of occurrence for threatened species and communities and impact assessments to inform client project feasibility studies and assist clients with meeting their environmental requirements under relevant legislation. You will have the opportunity to engage and collaborate with Jacobs’ extensive ecologist network across Australia and partner with the broader Jacobs business to provide ecological expertise on major infrastructure, transport, renewables, resource and sustainability projects.

The purpose of this role is to provide technical and professional leadership, project management and business development support within our Ecology team. Primary responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Leading and contributing to identifying, sourcing and winning opportunities by building strong relationships with clients and leading and/or writing proposals; 
• Providing guidance to the strategic direction of the ecology business;
• Leading and supporting the delivery of terrestrial ecology projects, often working collaboratively with a range of disciplines; 
• Supervising and undertaking flora and fauna assessments, including desktop assessment, field survey and reporting; 
• Technical review of terrestrial ecology reports/deliverables; 
• Mentoring and supporting junior staff.  

Here's what you'll need

Qualification:

• Degree in a relevant science discipline (ecology, environmental science, natural resource management)

Essential skills and experience:

• Proven experience in the delivery of ecology projects with a focus on flora survey, preferably in South Australia (SA). Including species identification and data collection
• Solid understanding of South Australian and Commonwealth environmental legislation, regulatory frameworks and application, particularly in relation to the Native Vegetation Act 1991 and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 
• Experience in implementing SA survey methods (e.g. Bushland, Rangeland and Scattered Tree Assessment Methods, Department for Infrastructure and Transport Vegetation Survey Method) 
• Experience in, and desire to be involved in business development / capture
• Willingness to undertake intra or interstate travel, including the occasional extended trip (negotiable)
• Highly developed report writing skills and demonstrated experience in the Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent communication, organisational and time management skills. Including the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines 
• Current driver’s license
• 4WD training and experience, or willingness to complete training

Desirable competencies: 

• Native Vegetation Council accreditation
• High level expertise in South Australian flora identification
• Ornithology expertise including bird identification skills / survey experience
• Experience in fauna survey 
• GIS skills and experience including use of ESRi ArcGIS Pro and Field Maps for data collection and analysis
• Working knowledge of new technologies in field survey and analysis

Jacobs. A world where you can. 

At Jacobs, we support your personal life and career journeys. From our inclusive employee networks to our positive mental health champions, we're committed to driving a culture of caring where you can be you. With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we've gone beyond traditional ways of working to help you uncover a working arrangement that delivers the flexibility, tools and space to maximise your potential.

We're the 2023 winners of the Consult Australia People First Award for our suite of employee benefits that support all our employees in all stages of their personal and professional lives. 

For the 6th consecutive year, we've been named an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (Australia). In New Zealand, we're a founding member of The Diversity Agenda and are committed to making our industry more inclusive and diverse. In Australia, our Reconciliation journey continues to be a considerable focus across all levels of the Jacobs community as we progress our Innovate level Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

Our Bronze Employer status in the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTI+ inclusion recognises our progress in creating an environment where our Jacobs employees can bring their whole selves to work.

We aim to embed inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that if we're inclusive, we're more connected, and if diverse, we're more creative. We accept people for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, mental health, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you're pregnant or on family leave. This is reflected in our eight global Jacobs employee networks centred on driving inclusion and diversity – ACE, Careers, Enlace, Harambee, OneWorld, Prism, Vetnet, and our Women’s Network – find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here.

No matter what drives you, you'll discover a way to cultivate, nurture and achieve your goals – all at a single global company.

We're an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates of diverse backgrounds to apply. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are strongly encouraged to apply. Jacobs aims to provide cultural safety at our interviews. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are invited to nominate a cultural representative to participate on the interview panel; please let your recruiter know in your application.