Job Description

The UK&I GCC Head of Ecology (E&E) is expected to demonstrate effective and visible leadership, focusing on employee engagement, retention, and capability development. The role will build high-performing teams that deliver ecological services to UK clients, supporting infrastructure planning and environmental consents projects.

This position involves close collaboration with the UK&I Ecology and other Earth & Environment teams within the E&E Business Unit in UK & GCC. The Head of Ecology will provide strategic guidance on attracting talent, improving team utilization, embedding consistent ecological practices, and ensuring high-quality delivery of biodiversity and ecological services. The role is growth-oriented, supporting our ambition to expand GCC Ecology through new service lines, capability building, and delivering high-value ecological services that meet evolving UK market needs.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

Lead and represent the India-based Ecology team (covering terrestrial, aquatic, marine, and biodiversity services) as the primary point of contact, collaborating with WSP UK Ecology and E&E teams.
Support workforce planning, recruitment, and onboarding to meet growth targets
Oversee local compliance with health, safety, welfare, risk management, and environmental legislation.
Foster a one team UK–GCC culture, encouraging open communication and collaboration.

Capability Development

Shape and grow GCC's Ecology discipline, including biodiversity net gain, habitat assessments, ecological surveys, and conservation planning.
Ensuring ecological reports, assessments, and deliverables meet UK standards and quality assurance.
Build strong understanding of UK ecological priorities (e.g., biodiversity net gain, protected species, habitat restoration) to align GCC recruitment and capability development.
Mentor teams in preparing ecological impact assessments, habitat management plans, biodiversity strategies, and supporting planning applications under UK legislation.

UK Integration & Ways of Working

Promote GCC Ecology achievements within UK E&E and the wider GCC business.
Seek feedback on team performance and convert challenges into opportunities for improvement.
Collaborate with UK Ecology and GCC leads to identify qualified staff for projects, balancing scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
Support technical governance of GCC deliverables to align with UK Ecology standards.

Client / External Focus – Delivery Oversight

Act as a key liaison with UK Ecology leadership, promoting GCC capabilities and ensuring success.
Review audits and ensure adherence to WSP quality processes, implementing corrective measures where needed.
Stay updated on UK ecological policy, biodiversity legislation, and competitor activity.
Ensure GCC Ecology contributes effectively to bids, proposals, case studies, and client pursuits.

People – Capability Evolution

Manage GCC Ecology resource utilization, forecasting, and cross-selling opportunities.
Inspire staff towards professional memberships (e.g., Chartered Ecologist, CIEEM).
Lead appraisals, performance reviews, and succession planning.
Mentor and coach team members towards qualifications in ecology and environmental sciences.
Actively reshape the capability mix towards digital ecology tools (GIS, remote sensing, ecological modelling).

Success in this Role Means

Strong, trusted UK–GCC relationships in ecology.
High utilization and predictable deployment of ecological teams.
New ecological capabilities built and embedded.
High-quality ecological delivery aligned to UK standards.
Clear, scalable operating model between UK and GCC.
Growing, motivated Ecology E&E team.
Demonstrable shift towards digital and data-led ecological services.
Tangible GCC Ecology team actively supporting UK projects.

Key Competencies / Skills

Senior leadership experience in UK ecological consulting, biodiversity, and environmental planning.
Proven GCC delivery model management with UK stakeholder engagement.
Strong governance, quality assurance, workforce planning, and utilization management.
Commercial awareness with contributions to ecological bids and proposals.
Excellent communication and ability to explain complex ecological issues to technical and non-technical audiences.
Experience preparing ecological assessments under UK legislation (e.g., Wildlife and Countryside Act, Habitats Regulations, Biodiversity Net Gain requirements).
Awareness of emerging ecological technologies (GIS, eDNA, remote sensing).

Desirable Skills

Chartered Ecologist (CIEEM) or equivalent professional accreditation.
Experience establishing or scaling GCC ecology teams supporting UK/global markets.

Qualifications

Master's degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Conservation Biology, or related discipline.
18–20 years of diverse experience in ecological consultancy, biodiversity assessments, UK planning processes, environmental legislation, renewable energy projects, infrastructure ecology, project management, and leadership in consulting environments.

BGV:

Employment with WSP India is subject to the successful completion of a background verification (BGV) check conducted by a third-party agency appointed by WSP India.
Candidates are advised to ensure that all information provided during the recruitment process — including documents uploaded — is accurate and complete, both to WSP India and its BGV partner.