Principal Habitats Regulations Assessment Specialists

Responsibilities

• Support development of technically robust and pragmatic solutions to complex HRA issues.
• Lead and support delivery of high-quality HRA consultancy and advisory services to both internal and external clients, including through check and review processes.
• Lead and support production of HRA reports for Local Plans and Development Consent Orders, across the UK and Republic of Ireland and potentially elsewhere in Europe, noting this is predominantly desk-based with some travel opportunities.
• Lead on (or develop knowledge with a view to leading on) interpretation of noise, water quality, and air quality data within an HRA context.
• Author or technically check project deliverables to ensure high quality outputs.
• Deliver, or assist in delivering, expert witness services on Local Plan HRAs and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project Examinations.
• Lead and support the preparation of high quality and commercially astute bids and tenders for HRA services, notably in the energy, defence, local authority strategic planning, and water sectors.
• Oversee plan, schedule and organise all phases of HRA project work, ensuring necessary resources, budgets and controls are in place to meet programme and budget requirements, including direct client contact.

Come grow with us. If you're passionate about innovation and turning bold ideas into reality, AECOM welcomes you. This role presents a great opportunity to utilise and enhance your HRA skills, to improve your advocacy and expert witness skills (or to develop them if you have no existing experience of expert witness) and to develop your familiarity with the intersection between HRA, ecology and other disciplines such as recreational studies, air quality assessments and noise modelling.

Although the work will be principally focused on HRA, opportunities will exist to undertake, and develop skills in, other work areas including ecological survey and Environmental Impact Assessment. Become part of our dynamic Nature business, which boasts around 230 professional experts across the UK&I, from species licence holders to experts in impact assessment, habitat creation, ecosystem restoration, enhancement, and management.

At AECOM, you ll thrive in an inclusive and forward-thinking environment where your contributions are valued.

Are you ready to join a team of talented ecologists and shape the future of the environment? Join our dynamic Nature team as a Principal Ecologist (or Principal HRA specialist) in our Basingstoke, Birmingham, Croydon, Cambridge, Nottingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Belfast, Birmingham, or Bristol offices (though other locations may be considered), and benefit through our flexible hybrid working model. At AECOM, we re at the forefront of innovation, delivering an exceptional portfolio of Ecology programs and projects through long-term partnerships with key clients.

In particular, AECOM has a large and growing business within the field of Habitats Regulations Assessment. Presently, we are working on a wide range of projects, including major infrastructure projects for the water industry; renewable energy such as solar farms (including several of the largest solar farms to have gained consent in the UK); coastal defences; electricity transmission network reinforcement;

and recreational infrastructure, as well as HRAs for Local Plans, Minerals and Waste Plans, and Local Transport Plans. We also offer core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customised to fit your lifestyle, with opportunities for career development, flexible hybrid working, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

Benefits, locations, and opportunities are subject to change and may vary by country and office.