About this role
Senior Ecologist
Location: Chilcompton, Somerset (hybrid)
Salary: £35,000 – £42,000 depending on experience
Contract type: Permanent, full-time
Reports to: Technical Director
Closing date: 31st October 2026
About Bengrove Consult
Bengrove Consult is a specialist ecological consultancy based in Chilcompton, Somerset. We work across planning ecology, biodiversity net gain, known as BNG, and long-term habitat monitoring. Our reputation is built on technical rigour, strong botanical expertise and responsive, practical client service.
We are a small, skilled and growing team with an ambition to build one of the most technically robust habitat-monitoring practices in the South West. We take BNG seriously and believe ecological information should be genuinely useful, not simply technically compliant.
We invest in technology to collect ecological data efficiently and communicate it clearly. This includes digital field-data collection, passive acoustic monitoring, AI-assisted species identification, custom data pipelines and interactive reporting. Our aim is to give clients and land managers clear, visual and actionable information.
We are now looking for an experienced Senior Ecologist to become central to how we deliver our work.
The Role
You'll be the main point of contact for clients on active projects - attending meetings, fielding technical questions, managing project timelines, and making sure work gets done on time and to a high standard. Senior leadership handles business development and strategy; your job is to own delivery.
Day to day, that means:
Managing client communications on active projects - responsively and confidentlyAttending client meetings and providing clear technical advicePreparing ecology reports for planning applications - written to be read, not just filedLeading BNG assessments and running Biodiversity Metric 4.0 calculationsConducting UKHab surveys and habitat mappingOccasional protected species surveys You'll work alongside a data specialist who handles much of the BNG work - your focus is on client relationships and report delivery, not just GIS.
Person Specification
Essential
Degree (or equivalent) in ecology, environmental science, biology, or a closely related disciplineSignificant ecology consultancy experience, including managing projects and client relationshipsDemonstrable experience of client-facing delivery - you have managed client relationships and are comfortable as the main contactStrong written communication skills: you write clearly for non-specialist readers, not just for planning officersStrong verbal communication: you can explain technical matters confidently to non-specialist clients and attend meetings independentlyPractical experience with BNG assessments using Biodiversity Metric 4.0UKHab survey experienceGIS experience (QGIS preferred) for habitat mapping and spatial outputsFull, clean UK driving licenceCIEEM membership (or working towards) Desirable
FISC Level 2 or above - botanical identification skills are core to our BNG monitoring work and are highly valued hereProtected species survey licences or experience: bat survey (roost assessment / transect), dormouse (nest tube / PTES), breeding bird survey, reptile surveyExperience with digital field data collection platforms (e.g. Coreo, ESRI Field Maps or similar)Experience preparing or contributing to HMMPs or long-term habitat monitoring reportsFamiliarity with EcIA methodology and planning ecology practice in England Why Bengrove
This is an opportunity to join a small, high-performing team where your contribution will be visible and meaningful. You will work directly with the Technical Director and Operations Lead and will have genuine influence over how the company delivers its services.
You will undertake technically serious ecological work and play an important part in developing Bengrove’s BNG and habitat-monitoring practice. You will also have the opportunity to work with technology at the cutting edge of ecological monitoring, including passive acoustic monitoring, digital field tools, AI-assisted species identification, custom data pipelines and interactive reporting.
We offer
Genuine Hybrid working from our Chilcompton, Somerset office 33 days' holiday per year (inclusive of bank holidays)Life assurance scheme providing 4x annual salary coverComprehensive income protection insuranceMeaningful client relationships and professional developmentThe opportunity to shape how a growing specialist consultancy delivers its work Bengrove Consult is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.