Director of Strategic Ecology - Natural Capital | Biodiversity Net Gain | Strategic Advisory
Bristol, M4 Corridor, South East, South West, West Midlands • £65-£75K + exceptional benefits • Ref: JSM- 1237
Posted 27th April 2026
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a leading multidisciplinary consultancy as a Director of Strategic Ecology, playing a key role within a growing Natural Capital team.
This is a senior, strategic position focused on delivering high-level ecological advice to a diverse client base across the rural, planning and development sectors, with a strong emphasis on shaping solutions aligned with evolving environmental policy.
The Role
You will lead and grow the strategic ecology offering, advising clients on how to integrate nature into development and land use decisions while navigating complex regulatory frameworks.
The role sits at the intersection of ecology, planning and commercial strategy, with a strong focus on value creation for clients.
Key Responsibilities
Provide strategic ecological advice to a wide range of urban and rural clients
Lead on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) strategy and implementation
Deliver ecological due diligence across complex development projects
Review and quality assure ecological outputs, including BNG assessments and technical reports
Contribute to and oversee Environmental Statements and Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA)
Coordinate delivery of ecological services through internal teams and external specialists
Engage with key stakeholders including Natural England, LPAs and NGOs
Support business growth through winning work and improving operational delivery
About You
Proven experience operating at Associate Director / Director level within ecology or environmental consultancy
Strong background in strategic ecology, BNG and development-related work
Excellent understanding of UK environmental policy and planning frameworks
Experience delivering ecological due diligence and high-level advisory work
Commercially aware, with the ability to provide pragmatic, value-driven solutions
Confident managing stakeholders and working within multidisciplinary teams
Why This Role?
Opportunity to take a leadership role in a growing Natural Capital team
Work on high-profile, complex projects across infrastructure, development and land management
Influence how ecology and natural capital are integrated into decision-making
Collaborative environment with access to multidisciplinary expertise
Strong platform for career progression and strategic impact
The Team
The Natural Capital team works across a wide range of projects including large-scale development, infrastructure and land management, supporting clients such as institutional landowners, developers and public bodies.
The team combines expertise across ecology, land management and environmental strategy, delivering integrated solutions across the UK.
📩 To apply or find out more, contact Jeremy at JSM Associates for a confidential discussion
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