Application Guide
How to Apply for Principal Ecologist
at AECOM
🏢 About AECOM
AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm that stands out for its commitment to 'building sustainable legacies,' integrating environmental stewardship directly into large-scale infrastructure projects. In the UK, they work on nationally significant projects where ecological considerations are central to planning and execution. Their focus on innovative solutions means ecologists get to work on cutting-edge approaches to biodiversity net gain, habitat creation, and complex environmental assessments.
About This Role
As a Principal Ecologist at AECOM, you'll lead the delivery of ecological consultancy services, overseeing projects from planning through to reporting, ensuring they meet technical, budgetary, and regulatory standards. This role is impactful because you'll be designing pragmatic solutions for complex ecological issues on major UK infrastructure projects, directly influencing how development and conservation are balanced. You'll also mentor teams and contribute to technical capability development, shaping the future of ecological practice within the firm.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing progress on multiple ecological surveys or assessments across different projects, providing technical guidance to team members, and liaising with clients or project managers to align ecological deliverables with overall project timelines. You could spend part of the day authoring or checking a complex ecology chapter for an Environmental Statement, followed by a meeting to plan resources for an upcoming phase of fieldwork, ensuring budgets and schedules are on track.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who AECOM Is Looking For
- An experienced ecological consultant with a proven track record of leading projects, managing budgets, and delivering high-quality ecological chapters for Environmental Statements and protected species licence applications.
- A strategic thinker who can develop technically robust yet pragmatic solutions to complex ecological constraints, often within tight project timelines typical of infrastructure work.
- A strong technical author and reviewer, capable of ensuring deliverables meet the high standards expected by clients like the UK government, local authorities, and major developers.
- A collaborative leader who can support both internal teams and external clients, with experience in resource planning and a commitment to developing technical capabilities within a team.
📝 Tips for Applying to AECOM
Explicitly quantify your experience with project leadership in your CV: mention the number of projects you've led, typical budgets managed, and types of reports (e.g., Environmental Statements, licence applications) you've authored or reviewed.
Highlight any experience with UK-specific ecological legislation and planning processes (e.g., Habitat Regulations, Biodiversity Net Gain, DEFRA guidance) since AECOM's UK projects require deep local regulatory knowledge.
Demonstrate your ability to develop 'pragmatic solutions' by including a brief case study in your cover letter that shows how you balanced ecological protection with project deliverables on a past complex project.
Research and reference AECOM's recent UK projects (e.g., highways, rail, energy) in your application to show you understand their portfolio and can discuss how your skills apply to their specific work.
Emphasize any experience with technical capability development, such as mentoring junior ecologists, creating guidance documents, or leading training, as this is explicitly mentioned in the job description.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your experience leading the delivery of ecological consultancy services on infrastructure or development projects, specifically highlighting project management, budgeting, and client liaison skills.', 'Examples of developing technically robust and pragmatic solutions to complex ecological issues, ideally referencing UK legislation and planning contexts.', 'Your track record in producing or technically reviewing high-quality ecology chapters for Environmental Statements and protected species licence applications.', "Your interest in contributing to AECOM's technical capabilities and sustainable legacy goals, linking your values to their company mission."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → AECOM's recent UK infrastructure projects (e.g., highways like Lower Thames Crossing, rail projects, or energy developments) to understand their ecological challenges and your potential role.
- → AECOM's sustainability reports and public commitments (like their 'Sustainable Legacies' strategy) to align your application with their corporate environmental goals.
- → The specific services offered by AECOM's UK Environment team, focusing on ecological consultancy, to see how this role fits within their broader service offerings.
- → Key UK ecological legislation and policy trends (e.g., Biodiversity Net Gain, Habitat Regulations) that are critical for AECOM's clients in infrastructure development.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic CV that doesn't highlight project leadership, budget management, or technical review experience specific to ecological consultancy.
- Failing to demonstrate knowledge of UK ecological regulations and planning processes, which are essential for AECOM's UK-based projects.
- Overemphasizing pure academic or research experience without showing how it translates to pragmatic, client-focused consultancy work in a commercial environment.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!