Head of Ecology

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.