Job Description

• Senior leadership opportunity delivering complex, high‑level ecological consultancy and expert evidence across Aotearoa New Zealand

• Influential role leading and mentoring a talented ecology team, while shaping business growth and service direction

• Employee‑owned consultancy offering autonomy, flexibility, competitive remuneration and meaningful career impact

Are you a highly regarded ecologist ready to step into a pivotal leadership role?

Do you thrive on complex projects, providing expert advice at the highest levels, and helping grow both people and business?

Everest People is proud to partner with EcoLogical Solutions Limited in the search for a passionate and experienced Principal Ecologist.

This is a rare opportunity to combine senior ecological consultancy, thought leadership, business development and mentoring, within a respected, employee‑owned organisation working on diverse projects throughout Aotearoa.

About EcoLogical Solutions

A highly regarded, employee-owned, specialist ecology consultancy, employing a team of 16 awesome and dedicated ecologists across bases in Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and Nelson.

At Ecological Solutions, they are passionate about meeting the challenge of finding solutions that work for their clients and protect and enhance our natural environment. Their values are that ‘ our friendly team is driven to understand our clients’ needs, take a broad view, and deliver pragmatic solutions we are proud of and our clients can rely on’.

Established in 2009, the company has an exceptional track record for delivering high-quality ecology consulting services over the last 16 years. Their project experience is diverse and includes working for all major sectors on challenging and interesting small, medium, and large projects across the motu.

The role

As Principal Ecologist, you will play a key leadership role in the business, with a strong emphasis on supporting and growing the team. Your work will span:

• Delivery of high‑level, complex ecological consultancy, including proposals, field programmes, data analysis, reporting and expert evidence

• Project management, including client communications, managing project team members, project budgets, and ensuring QAQC

• Leading and overseeing freshwater and terrestrial ecology projects across Aotearoa, providing mentoring and technical guidance to ecologists at all career stages

• Preparing ecological due diligence, compliance monitoring, assessments of effects, opportunities and constraints reports, restoration plans, and expert evidence.

• Identifying and implementing initiatives that improve the operation, client experience, and reputation of the business.

• Actively pursuing new business opportunities and helping shape the future direction of the company

About you

We’re looking for someone with a proven ecology consulting track record who is solutions-focused and has the personality and skills needed to be a great consultant and project team leader.

You will bring:

• Extensive experience leading ecological projects and multidisciplinary teams

• Recognition as an expert in your field, with credibility in regulatory and court settings, holding a MSc or higher qualification in ecology or a related discipline

• A pragmatic, solutions‑focused approach to complex environmental challenges

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Commercial awareness and an interest in business growth

• A collaborative mindset and commitment to developing people

Why join?

We understand the importance of creating and nurturing a work environment that provides flexibility, autonomy, and the ability to grow in your career.

• Interesting and challenging projects as part of a small team of specialists, you will have ample opportunities to contribute or lead interesting projects using a wide range of your technical, project and client management skills.

• Well rewarded you will be well remunerated and benefit from many other supports, including future potential for employee ownership opportunities.

• Make it work for you: you’ll have the opportunity to shape your role into one that fits well with your life situation, skills, and career aspirations.

• Travel is part of the job: we are involved in projects all over Aotearoa and we’re flexible to make it a good fit for the right people.

• Work independently: you’ll have a high degree of autonomy, with support from the wider team available when you need it.

• Learn and develop: grow through professional development and mentoring and external training.

• Be part of a great team: have fun and share in the success of their work.

For a confidential conversation, please call Everest Recruitment Partner, Helen Dale, on 027 267 9725.